Significance of Laudato Si' for Catholic Theological Ethics

Laudato Si' has put environmental protection and sustainability back in the world agenda. This encyclical also provides a glimpse into Pope Francis' approach to Catholic theological ethics. He redirects the focus of bioethical discussions from specific ethical issues to the socio-economic situations in which these issues arise. His approach is drawn from his understanding of reality as an interwoven network of relationships. This paper, after describing Pope Francis' approach to Catholic theological ethics in Laudato Si', proposes that Pope Francis urges the Catholic church to play a prophetic role in ethical matters by meeting people where they are and accompany them with mercy, engaging the world in dialogue, emphasizing justice and care in healthcare and fostering the conscience of the society.