Inspirations Of Pope Francis’ Concept Of Integral Ecology

Abstract

This article presents the cultural ideas as well as philosophical, social and scientific theories that shaped the concept of integral ecology presented by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si’. There are many indications that the direct impact on the thought of the Pope was St. Francis’ of Assisi vision of the world and the social teaching of the Church, especially the teachings of John Paul II and Benedict XVI. It also seems that at least an indirect impact on the ecology of the Pope’s vision expressed in the ecological encyclical was exerted by Jacques Maritain’s integral humanism. Because of the similarity of ideas, we can also assume that the earlier versions of integral ecology proposed by Ken Wilber, Leonardo Boff and Thomas Berry also to some extent might have provided inspiration for Pope Francis.

Keywords

• integral ecology
• ecophilosophy
• Francis (pope)
• encyclical
• religion and ecology
• Laudato Si'