The Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life have jointly published a new document offering guidelines for families related to the care for creation and human life.
The 79-page document, titled “Integral Ecology in the Life of the Family,” draws from the principles of Pope Francis’ post-synodal exhortation “Amoris Laetitia” and the teachings of the encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home.”
“Family values are the fruitful soil from which all of society grows. In order to care properly for our common home and for all people, families must be the model,” Cardinal Michael Czerny and Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefects of the two dicasteries, respectively, wrote in a joint press release to promote the document April 27.
“Many families are attentive in caring for our common home and caring for others, their minds set on the hope that is Jesus Christ. The values of the family are consistent and fundamental to the care of our common home and of our neighbors,” the cardinal prefects of the two dicasteries added.
“What are the values of the family? Members of the family learn selflessness, patience and dedication, openness and protection of life, so that they can flourish, complementarity and reciprocity, intergenerational connections and solidarity with other families, and the transmission of knowledge and traditions.” The document offers guidelines to families, Church groups and individuals to help them address the current environmental challenges and to promote the integral development of every person.
