Earth Day 2026: Wednesday, April 22, 2026: Pope Francis on Caring for Our Common Home; "Nothing in this world is indifferent to us."

Dear Sisters and Brothers of Emmaus: Today is Earth Day! We celebrate the awe of our planet, its skies, its oceans, forests and all living beings. 

Pope Francis wrote a letter to us encouraging us to protect our planet, its people and all living things. He called the encyclical  “Laudato Si, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. 

In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. “Praise be to you, my Lord, through our Sister, Mother Earth, who sustains and governs us, and who produces various fruit with coloured flowers and herbs”.[1]

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. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. 

This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor; she “groans in travail” (Rom 8:22). We have forgotten that we ourselves are dust of the earth (cf. Gen 2:7); our very bodies are made up of her elements, we breathe her air and we receive life and refreshment from her waters.

Francis’ Appeal

The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. 

Here I want to recognize, encourage and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of the home which we share. Particular appreciation is owed to those who tirelessly seek to resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of the world’s poorest. Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.

I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges. 

Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity. 

As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation”. [22] All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents.

Prayer for Justice & Care for Our Common Home adapted from a prayer written by Ori Cappella, a student at Stonehill College '26.

Divine Spirit of justice, compassion, and love,

We come before you carrying adoration for this Earth and sorrow for the harm it endures. We see how environmental injustice is deeply connected to other struggles. Communities already burdened by poverty, racism, and displacement are the same communities facing polluted air, unsafe water, and rising climate disasters.

Give us the courage to confront these injustices, to immerse ourselves intentionally, and to listen to those most impacted. Help us advocate for policies and practices that honor both people and the planet. Strengthen our commitment to care for one another in ways that are sustainable, equitable, and rooted in love.

We pray for a world where no one is forced to choose between their health and their survival, where all people have access to clean air, water, healthcare, and the resources they need to thrive. May future generations inherit a world that reflects equity, healing, and hope.

Guide us to be active participants in this work, not just witnesses.

Let our faith call us to action and our actions inspire our love for our earth and all living things.

Amen.

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