Folia Theologica et Canonica 6. 28/20 (2017)

SACRA THEOLOGIA - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem.. Encyclical letter «Laudato si’» as ‘constitution’ on responsibility of global sustainability

FOLIA THEOLOGICA ET CANONICA (2017)47-60

Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi, O.Praem.

ENCYCLICAL LETTER «LAUDATO SI’» AS ‘CONSTITUTION’ ON RESPONSIBILITY OF GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY*

Dean Koontz, celebrated novelist, author of many number one New York Times bestsellers, who lives in Southern California, enjoying the intellectual company of the Norbertine Fathers of St. Michael’s Abbey, begins one of his famous Novell. "The City” (2014) with a Prelude:

“Malcolm gives me a tape recorder. - He says, «You’ve got to talk your life.»- «I’d rather live the now than talk about the was.» - Malcolm says, «Not all of it. Just the ... you know.» -«I’m to talk about the you know?» - Malcolm says, «People need to hear it.» - «What people?» - Malcolm says, «Everybody. These are sad times.» - «I can’t change the times.» -Malcolm says, «It’s a sad world. Lift it a little.» - «You want me to leave out all the dark stuff?» - Malcolm says, «No, man. You need the dark stuff.» - «Oh, I don't need it. Not me.» - Malcolm says, «The dark makes the light stuff brighter.»- «So when I’m done talking about the you know - then what? » - Malcolm says, «You make it a book.» - «You going to read this book?» - Malcolm says, «Mostly. Parts of it I wouldn’t be able to see clear enough to read.» - «What if I read those part to you?» - Malcolm says, «If you’re able to see the words, I’d listen.» - «By then I’ll be able. Talking it the first time is what will kill me.»”1

If we follow this unusual discussion, we can understand something about the rapid influence and effects of the Encyclical Letter Laudato si' by Pope Francis.2 Who definitely has not written a Novell, but described not only the common knowledge on the sickness of the Created World - like dark elements - but included into the material the spiritual aspect, a special mission of the responsible human being - like the light which can make the world brighter as compared

* This article is an extended version of my paper which was presented at the Symposium on Global Sustainability, in the Hungarian Academy Rome (September 19"' 2017). This publication is supported by the KAP 17-63018-3.6-JÁK project.

1 Koontz, D., The City, New York 2014. 3.

2 Franciscus, Enc. Laudato si’ (24 mai. 2015): AAS 107 (2015) 847-945 (English translation: http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_ enciclica-laudato-si.html (consulted: September 12'" 2017).