A theme in Pope Francis’s writings is that we should not give up on dialogue, as we need

to use this as a tool to be able to regrow our nation and to stop spiraling down this
continued path of destruction of our home.  He references that human beings frequently
do not think of things that are not affecting us. “Because of us, thousands of species will
no longer give glory to God by their very existence, nor convey their message to us. We
have no such right.”  I think the theme in this is one of entitlement.  We have no right
assuming that we can take resources and not replenish.  In us protecting the planet, we
are protecting human dignity and caring for God’s creation, as he trusted us to do.
      Within the section of national policies, the Pope advises that “individual states can no
longer ignore their responsibility for planning, coordination, oversight and enforcement
within their respective borders.”  Essentially, a federal government is too big to make
effective climate changes because they are not equipped to know the cultural and
regional differences. State and local officials are more effective as they are working more
closely with the communities by which they serve.  Their decisions impact their own
families and so they work more closely to preserve their region, working for peace and
order, ultimately implementing policies for environmental and economic well-being.  In
the text, he explains that officials must work for more than just short-term growth. 
What he finds happening is that officials take in consideration immediate needs to get
elected and this is why some changes are not happening. Change and growth take longer
than a four-year term though and the next administration could undo the previous laws
in place.  He is telling us as well that we forget that “time is greater than space.” We
need to instead prioritize actions to make changes instead of just going for power and
having immediate results.  The meaning in this is that we must endure difficult and
inevitable inconveniences to make authentic progress.  We cannot be a nation divided
amongst the “haves and have nots.”  That thought process is corrupt all around. “Public
pressure has to be exerted in order to bring about decisive political action.”  We need to
not fear offending our fellow man, instead knowing what is better for mankind, including
the wealthy as well as the impoverished. 
      Greta Thurnburg speaks on the discrepancy on the “huge gap between what we are
doing and between what actually needs to be done.”  She talks about uncomfortable
facts in stopping the usage of fossil fuels and in using natural resources and if we do not
act now, we will continue to fail and how we will need to explain to future generations
about how we dropped the ball.   She is a real-life representative of change and in
watching her, I was inspired.  I truly was unaware of the lack of action and though I am
aware of political agendas that do not benefit the nation as a whole, I never knew of its
gravity.  I watched this video feeling naive. I also felt saddened learning that we are just
masking problems, acting like we will be able to simply handle the changes when we
know that deforestation is harming us and creating more C02, that our energy is not
sustainable when really, the technology proves to be able to be advanced, just under-
funded.  How is it that one-third of produced food is wasted when our own community
has people going hungry daily? I believe that change begins with just one person and
hence has a snowball effect.  We have found through social media and in other media
platforms that our generation is one of influence.  Within the opening of the encyclical,
the Pope outlines the deficiencies of mankind and why we are doing God a disservice in
our everyday actions. I for one want to share what I have learned and continue being
educated, possibly joining a group initiative.  We must come together to do better to
enforce change or it simply will not get better for our future.
 
Francis, Pope. “Laudato Si' (24 May 2015): Francis.” Laudato Si' (24 May 2015) | Francis, 18
June 2015, https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-
francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html. 
AP, Source: “Greta Thunberg Tells Us to 'Use Your Common Sense' on Climate Crisis –
Video.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 22 Apr. 2021,
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2021/apr/22/greta-thunberg-us-house-
testimony-climate.