Towards a new environmental and social ecology: The new paradigm of Pope Francis

The Chair of Christian Thought the Bishopric of Urgell organized last July 2 its thirteenth seminar entitled: Towards a new environmental and social ecology. The new paradigm of Pope Francis. The event was held at the Rocafort Auditorium of Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra, for further analysis and proposals of the encyclical.

The environmental situation of our planet –our common home- calls for urgent measures to ensure their sustainability. About a year ago that Pope Francis denounced the serious situation with the encyclical Laudato Si‘, addressed to all mankind, and encouraged dialogue between all parties and a sincere ‘ecological conversion’.

The Archbishop of Urgell and co-Prince of Andorra Joan-Enric Vives welcomed the participants and glossed the significance of the encyclical, which challenges us all. The event included speeches of Lluc M. Torcal, Attorney General of the Cistercian Order, with the presentation An overview of the state of the Earth in the light of Laudato Si ‘Pope Francis’; Josep M. Mallarach, member of the IUCN Commissions of Protected Areas and Environmental Policy, with the presentation The link between nature and spirituality. Towards a new paradigm; and Francesc Torralba, professor at the University Ramon Llull and Director of the Chair of Christian Thought, with the presentation Widening the sense of ecological ethics. The human person at the center.