Laudate Deum: A Discussion on Pope Francis' New Apostolic Exhortation

Laudate Deum: A discussion on Pope Francis' new Apostolic Exhortation
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Noon-1:25pm (Feel free to join or leave as your schedule allows)
Pigott 305
Lunch provided; please RSVP to ICTC@seattleu.edu

The Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture will sponsor a series of quarterly events on Pope Francis’ most recent Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum. This 15-page letter, addressed to All People of Good Will on the Climate Crisis, seeks “to clarify and complete” the Encyclical Laudato Si’. Laudate Deum responds to developments since Laudato Si’, commencing with a sober assessment of the Global Climate Crisis grounded in IPCC Reports. Pope Francis unmasks the power structures propelling the collapse of all life systems and calls for a transformation at the level of international politics born out of renewed personal responsibilities on the part of everyone on the planet. He directs our attention to the upcoming Conference of Parties meeting in UAE (COP28), urging a “new process marked by three requirements: that it be drastic, intense and count on the commitment of all” (LD 59). 

This discussion will be facilitated by Dr. Jessica Ludescher Imanaka, associate professor in management and philosophy. Imanaka specializes in Catholic Social Thought with an emphasis on Pope Francis’ writings. She will provide an overview of Laudate Deum situating it in relation to the encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti. She will also unpack Pope Francis’ critique of the “technocratic paradigm” and connect Laudate Deum to Pope Francis’ prior call for ecological conversion. “We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes” (LD 56).

View an Infographic of Laudate Deum here, and check out the Laudato Si’ Movement’s website with a variety of resources here.