Pope Francis is expected to entitle his new encylical on the environment Laudato Sii, which means “Praised Be You”.
The title of the encyclical, which is expected to be published in June, is taken from St Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun which praises God for his creation.
According to a report on Catholic News Agency, Fr Giuseppe Costa, director of the Vatican Publishing House, is understood to have announced the encyclical’s title while presenting the Cardinal Michele Giordano prize on Saturday afternoon in Naples.
The prize is named after the former archbishop of Naples, who died in 2010.
The encyclical is also expected to be subtitled: Sulla cura della casa comune (“On the care of the common home”).
St Francis’s prayer was published around the year 1224 and is recognised as one of the first published works of literature in the Umbrian dialect of the then-developing Italian language.
The prayer reads: “Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun,” and continues to praise God for “Sister Moon,” “Brothers Wind and Air,” “Sister Water,” “Brother Fire, and “Mother Earth.”
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