While the focus of this encyclical can be understood as environmental concerns, Pope Francis I intertwines humans into the equation by stating that “the human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together." And he goes on to explain that «we cannot adequately fight environmental degradation if we do not deal with the causes linked to human and social degradation» (Francis, 14). Here lies the crux of his argument. We are connected to the natural world in ways that far exceed our enjoyment of it. If we neglect our responsibilities to be conscious stewards, we will both fall together. Ironically, as we enable (and often catalyze) the degradation of our environment towards capital gains, comfort, and convenience, we are deconstructing the pavement beneath our feet. If we accept the power given to us in this new age characterized by our immense power as human beings, we must also accept that we have the power to heal. Antithetically, we destroy the environment and in doing so we seal our fate. We are the architects of our own ruin. In this encyclical letter, Pope Francis I specifically addresses the role of religion and Christianity and challenges them, ultimately, to heed their beliefs and take up the task found in their religious texts and teachings, a task to which we often give up. Indeed, it is the duty of followers of Christ to take care of