“The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.” God created the world good and entrusted it to humanity “to till it and keep it.” We are stewards, not owners. Dominion means responsible care, like a good king who serves his people, not exploitation.
Saint Francis of Assisi praised God for Brother Sun and Sister Moon and saw every creature as a sign of God's love. In 2015 Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si', on care for our common home. Its title comes from the first words of Saint Francis's Canticle of the Creatures: “Praised be You, my Lord.”
Laudato Si' speaks of integral ecology: everything is connected. Pollution, climate change, the loss of species and the lack of clean water hurt the poor first and worst. Pope Francis wrote that we face not two separate crises, one environmental and one social, but one complex crisis. Caring for creation is a way of loving our neighbor.
Animals are God's creatures, and it is wrong to make them suffer or die needlessly. At the same time, human beings have a unique dignity. Integral ecology respects both: it protects nature and protects human life at every stage, because the same throwaway attitude that wastes things can also discard people.
Ecological conversion begins with small daily choices: wasting less, using less energy and water, buying less, choosing fairly made products, and enjoying creation instead of treating it only as something to consume. Pope Francis also encourages simple habits like grace before meals, which reminds us that every good thing is a gift.
Care for creation also means acting together: supporting policies and businesses that protect the environment and the poor, and joining community efforts such as clean-ups and tree planting. Every generation is responsible for handing on a livable world to the next.