St francis of Assisi did not become the world’s most popular saint because of his preaching, the miracles he performed, or because he wrote great books. He was a man who cared – for people, animals and created things. As a verb, the word “care” means to be concerned, have a preference, show an inclination, exhibit affection; as a noun, it means concern, maintenance and supervision. Care is an essential human capacity, a virtue requiring action; it is essential to the Beatitudes, but it is easily forgotten or abandoned in favour of expediency. Rooted in a deep Christian humanism, the sort of caring that fed Francis of Assisi is also inspiring Pope Francis.The Pope’s new encyclical, Laudato si’: on the care of our common home, is his latest expression of