A gift from God and the common home of humanity, the earth is threatened by mans abuse of his freedom. In his encyclical Praise Be to You Laudato Si, Pope Francis challenges all people to praise and thank God for his glorious creation and to work together to safeguard her. Popes Benedict XVI, John Paul II, and Paul VI addressed key themes regarding stewardship of Gods creation, but Francis is the first to devote an entire encyclical to the subject. The encyclical takes its name from Saint Francis of Assisis Canticle of the Creatures, which depicts creation as a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Pope Francis declares, This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her.
