Pope Francis’ forthcoming encyclical is on the subject of “fraternity”, which in the Latin original – Fratelli tutti – means “brothers and sisters”. Except in the theology of this Pope, our “brothers and sisters” are not only our fellow men and women. He uses the phrase as his namesake would have done, to include all creatures great and small, animate and inanimate. The wind, sun and clouds are also part of this passionate faith-inspired embrace; as well as the birds, beloved of the saint who radiated “the sublime fraternity of all creation”. The Pope’s refusal to countenance causing deliberate suffering to any living creature is almost Buddhist in its spirituality. The reconciliation of people of every faith is likely to be a major theme of this encyclical.

The coronavirus and the lockdown have given many people a chance to be reacquainted with nature as they took their statutory exercise walk, cycle or run, and rested to draw breath in the unaccustomed pure air and welcome silence. Many have rediscovered what is meant by being in touch with nature, or even being one with it. The hills, fields and woods are glorious, and they speak of the glory of God. This strange episode has awakened a sensitivity to what Pope Francis is saying about our interconnectedness with nature as well as with each other. It is political and cultural – but it is also mystical.