Laudate Deum:

Laudate Deum:

Pope Francis


On October 4, 2023, the Vatican distributed Pope Francis' latest apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, which addresses the climate issue to all good people. It serves as a follow-up to his encyclical Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home, which was published in 2015.

What does Laudate Deum mean?

Laudate Deum means "Praise God".

The title of this exhortation, which has been referred to as a sequel to Laudato Si, reflects this. This new publication, like Laudato Si', makes us think of the Canticle of the Creatures, a prayer poem by St. Francis that praises God by praising God's creation.

According to Pope Francis, the reason this letter's title is "Praise God" is because "when human beings claim to take God's place, they become their own worst enemies." (#73) He meant by this that when we pursue power for its own purpose, we harm both the environment and ourselves. Power should be used to improve the world for everyone.