The Concept of Care in the Encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti: A Perspective from Feminist Liberation Theology

Abstract

The paradigm of care is a theological, philosophical, anthropological, and political reference in the encyclicals Laudato Si’ (2015) and Fratelli Tutti (2020), written by Pope Francis. Laudato Si’ presents care for our common home, and in Fratelli Tutti, care is understood as social friendship. In this way, the Pope seeks to address the socio-environmental and human crisis globally. This article analyzes the concept of care in both papal documents, problematizing the lack of reference to the protagonism of women in the care of our common home as well as in the construction of social friendship. The methodology is bibliographic, based on the documentary analysis of the two encyclicals and on critical dialogue with authors of feminist theology. It is concluded that caring for our common home and building social friendship require the inclusion of gender justice, affirming the dignity and rights of all people and all of creation.

Keywords: Care. Common home. Social friendship. Women’s empowerment. Laudato Si’. Fratelli Tutti.