Pope Francis (1936-2025): He offered a profound message of hope, responsibility and unity

As India grapples with severe air pollution, water scarcity and the devastating impacts of climate change, the need for environmental stewardship has never been more urgent. At the same time, stark inequalities persist. Millions continue in squalor and poverty while a privileged few enjoy obscenely disproportionate wealth.

Our social fragmentation, fueled by religious and caste divisions, further complicates the path to unity and progress.

In this context, Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato Si’ (2015) and Fratelli Tutti (2020) offerred a profound and timely message of hope, responsibility, and unity. These documents are not merely theological reflections. They are urgent calls to action, addressing the interconnected crises of climate change, poverty, and division. They challenge humanity to embrace a new way of living – one rooted in care for creation, solidarity with the marginalised, and commitment to the common good.

His encyclicals are not abstract ideals but lifelines for a planet in peril, urging us to move beyond apathy and division. As he himself has demonstrated through his recovery, healing – whether of the earth or of society – demands both faith and action. The time to listen, and to act, is now.

In Laudato Si or Praise Be to You, subtitled On Care for Our Common Home, Francis presents a vision of integral ecology, recognising...

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