Episode 13: Riccardo Cascioli on Stewardship of the Environment (November 18, 2025)

In this episode of The Social Doctrine of the Church, Robert Fastiggi interviews Riccardo Cascioli on stewardship of the environment.The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997), nos. 2415–2418 speaks of respect for the integrity of creation? What does this mean?The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2005) devotes a whole chapter on “Safeguarding the Environment.” Do you believe safeguarding the environment is a legitimate concern for Catholic social doctrine?In 2015, Pope Francis published his encyclical, Laudato Si’, on care for our common home. In 2023, he issued his apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum on the climate crisis. What do you believe are the strengths and weaknesses of these documents?In his message to the bishops of the Amazon on August 18, 2025, Pope Leo XIV spoke of the need to be “diligent stewards” of natural goods, but he also warned about not being “a slave or worshiper of nature.” Why do you believe he felt the need to issue this warning?On November 7, 2025, Pope Leo XIV sent a message to the participants of the 30th session of the UN Convention on Climate Change (COP30) meeting in Bélem, Brazil. What are your thoughts about Pope Leo’s message?Are there any other concerns about Catholic social doctrine and the environment that you would like to share?