Pope Francis’ Environmental Encyclical Is Even More Radical Than It Appears

Whatever impact “Laudato Si'” has in the political world remains to be seen. But that the pope is here embracing a nature-based mysticism, a highly adumbrated anthropocentrism, and a radical “integral ecology” places the encyclical alongside the best of radical, progressive religious environmentalism — and far outside what even mainline Protestant denominations have affirmed heretofore.

“Laudato Si'” may turn out to be politically influential. It is already theologically revolutionary.