For Pope Francis, every bottle reused, every tree planted, and every light turned off in solidarity with creation is an act of resistance—and an act of love.
The Ascension of Jesus Christ, which we will celebrate liturgically in a few weeks, holds two powerful meanings for Christians: a moving farewell and a solemn commissioning. As the disciples looked up toward the heavens, they were also reminded to look around and ahead—to carry on Christ’s mission in the world. Now, as the global Church bids farewell to Pope Francis, we find ourselves at a similar juncture. We remember a pope who looked heavenward and grounded his papacy in the concrete needs of the Earth and humanity. As we look up in gratitude, we must also walk forward with purpose—committed to continuing his mission of mercy, justice, and care for our common home.
A Pontificate Rooted in Compassion
Over his 12-year pontificate, Francis remained consistent in his message: the Gospel demands care for all life. Whether speaking from the slums of Latin America or addressing world leaders at the United Nations, he never lost sight of the people on the margins. His heart was with refugees, the unemployed, the trafficked, and the imprisoned—and with creation itself, which he saw as suffering under human greed and indifference. If there is one text that distills this concern for humanity into a lasting message, it is his 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’. Here, Francis wove together the threads of social justice, environmental stewardship, and spiritual renewal. He clarified that the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor are the same. In paragraph after paragraph, we see that Laudato Si’ is not just about trees, air, and water—it is about people. It is about the dignity of life in all its forms and the moral cost of ecological destruction. In his words: “We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis that is both social and environmental.” (LS 139)
Standing Tall in an Age of Greed
At a time when economic systems reward exploitation and consumerism, Pope Francis stood as a countercultural figure. While much of the world distanced itself from environmental responsibility out of greed or convenience, he courageously pointed to the spiritual emptiness of such paths. He challenged the illusion of endless growth and profit at the expense of the poor and the planet. He is a strong critic of what Laudato Si’ calls “the technocratic paradigm”—a worldview that sees nature as something to be controlled, not cherished. He warns that when humans see themselves as masters of the Earth, rather than stewards, both creation and humanity suffer. His solution? He advocated not only for policy reform, but also for a change of heart. He called for an “ecological conversion”—a spiritual turning that reconnects us with creation, our neighbors, and God.
A Humanitarian Voice Beyond Borders and Religions
One of the most remarkable aspects of Francis’s papacy is how he extended his compassion beyond the boundaries of nation, religion, or ideology. He consistently referred to “our common home,” a phrase that welcomed Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and people of no faith into the moral conversation. As Asian Christians living in a region marked by religious diversity and ecological richness, we are uniquely placed to live out the spirit of Laudato Si’. The respect for nature deeply rooted in Asian cultures complements the encyclical’s message. Whether in the rice paddies of Vietnam, the rivers of India, or the forests of the Philippines, the Earth sustains life and deserves reverence. Pope Francis taught us that caring for creation is not just a Catholic issue—it is a human issue. And his legacy invites us to build bridges, not walls, and to cooperate across faiths in healing the wounds of our Earth.
The Subtle Weight of Ecological Sin
Francis named what few dared to: ecological sin. In Laudato Si’, he lamented that “some forms of pollution are part of people’s daily experience” (LS 20), yet go unnoticed and unrepented. We experience little moral discomfort due to the delayed and distant consequences of our actions, such as plastic waste, carbon emissions, or deforestation. This numbness is dangerous. Like the frog in the gradually boiling pot, we adjust to rising temperatures, rising seas, and rising costs—until it's too late. He also warned against “pseudo inefficacy,” the belief that individual actions don’t matter. But he rejected this fatalism, encouraging us instead to begin with small, meaningful changes. Every bottle reused, every tree planted, and every light turned off in solidarity with creation is an act of resistance—and an act of love.
Joyful Conversion for a Shared Future
Francis never reduced ecology to rules and guilt. He called us not just to act, but to rejoice. He wrote, “Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise” (LS 12). This joy is essential. Without it, sustainability becomes a burden. With it, conversion becomes a celebration. It is a celebration of life, of interdependence, and of God's presence in all things. Therefore, it serves as a reminder that love is the foundation of true conversion. With the experience of being loved by God despite our failures—and from that love flows the strength to change and reconcile with the world.
A Legacy for Asian Christians to Carry
Now that Francis has entered eternal rest, his words remain with us—challenging, comforting, and calling us forward. For Asian Christians, Laudato Si’ offers both a mirror and a map—a mirror that reveals where we have failed creation and a map that shows how we might journey toward healing. Let us deepen our awareness of ecological sin. Let us link creation care with the plight of the poor. Let us nurture a spirituality of simplicity, joy, and solidarity. And let us do it not alone, but together—with our neighbors, our interfaith partners, and the millions who share this fragile but beautiful planet. May we, as people of faith in Asia, walk humbly on this Earth, bear the light of Francis’s legacy, and continue his mission of mercy—toward both humanity and creation.
Mukti Clarence, a Jesuit of the Jamshedpur Province in eastern India, is a professor at XITE, Gamharia, Jharkhand. He holds a doctorate in psychology and contributes scholarly articles to numerous national and international peer-reviewed journals.)
