Nature's revenge and the Pope's "Laudato Si"

After the devastation by Typhoon Tino, we remember with poignant nostalgia one of the greatest papal masterpieces of all times, the encyclical "Laudato Si". It was the late Pope Francis’ most enduring legacy to humanity written on May 15, 2015 on the third year of his pontificate.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

The late pope called Mother Earth. This reminds me of the religious movie, "Brother Sun, Sister Moon". It was based on the life of Francesco, a spoiled son of rich Italian textile merchant, Pietro Bernardone. Francesco returned from fighting in a war for his homeland Assisi in its territorial dispute against Perugia. He was forced to leave the war because of a debilitating ailment. It was that serious sickness that transformed Francesco into a saint.

Francesco, who later became St. Francis, denounced all attachments to material wealth. He opted to become a monk after returning to his father all his material possessions. Then he became a defender of nature and the environment. He and his friend St. Claire were referred to as "Brother Sun, Sister Moon". Laudato Si, which was written by Pope Francis, is a contemporary call to all humanity to return to the original plan of God for man to take care of nature, and never to desecrate the natural environment.