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

ENCYCLICAL LETTER «LAUDATO SL» AS ‘CONSTITUTION’ ON RESPONSIBILITY... 53

human dignity18 19 20, on the protection of the created world, on the new scientific challenges for mankind in the field of environmental questions.1'1

Nevertheless, Pope Francis focused not only on the modern scientific questions and answers of sociological and environmental questions. Within the concept of his Encyclical Letter is a recurring idea to refer the example and life of St. Francis of Assisi. His life and relation to God and to the Created World is the frame of the entire concept of Laudato si’. As Pope Francis writes:

“Francis helps us to see that an integral ecology calls for openness to categories which transcend the language of mathematics and biology, and take us to the heart of what it is to be human. Just as happens when we fall in love with someone, whenever he would gaze at the sun, the moon or the smallest of animals, he burst into song, drawing all other creatures into his praise. He communed with all creation, even preaching to the flowers, inviting them “to praise the Lord, just as if they were endowed with reason”. His response to the world around him was so much more than intellectual appreciation or economic calculus, for to him each and every creature was a sister united to him by bonds of affection. That is why he felt called to care for all that exists.” (An. 10).

A very simple, humble, pure relation which respect every valuable being, which truly respect the World, entrusted to the mankind, respect the mankind which already for the early 13lh century had built up a “second nature” to facilitate the day-to day life, particularly with the medieval farming system. This simple relationship with the environment, the daily labor and the natural faith lays down the basis for the society to begin to design, to research, to develop, but not destroy the possibility of the future. The composition of the simple holy wisdom of the 13lh century2" with the current serious sociological, scientific questions about our place of life: the Earth, Pope Francis was able to compose a real Constitution - in proper sense - of Global Sustainability, primary to the Christians, but through its deliberated contents, to the entire human society.

IV. Therefore, when I use the expression “constitution” regarding this particular topic, I do it intentionally based on the classical legal meaning of the constitution. The primary meaning of constitution is a summary of the fundamental

18 Cartabia, M. - Simonom, A. (ed.), Pope Benedict XVI’s Legal Thought. A Dioalogue on the Foundation of Law (Cambridge Studies in Law and Christianity), Cambridge 2015. 168-169.

19 In order to understan its importance, cf. Kotecha, P. - Diwekar, U. M. - Cabezas, H., Model Based Approach to Study the Impact of Biofuels on the Sustainability of an Integrated System, in Clean Tech. Env. Pot. 15/1 (2013)21-33.

20 Cf. Denley, P., The Mediterranean in the Age of the Renaisance, 1200-1500, in Holmes, G. (ed.), The Oxford History of Medieval Europe, Oxford 1992. 222-275, especially 229-237.