Indiana Bishops Call for 'Integral Ecology' Rooted in Eucharist

New pastoral letter urges faithful to live 'eucharistic lives' caring for both people and creation

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:34pm

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A high-contrast, brightly colored silkscreen print of a single Eucharistic chalice repeated in a tight grid pattern, capturing the sacrament's centrality to the bishops' vision of holistic stewardship.The Eucharist as the source and summit of an 'integral ecology' that unites care for people and creation.Wabash Today

The Indiana Catholic bishops have released a new pastoral letter calling on the faithful to embrace an 'integral ecology' that sees care for fellow humans and for creation as interrelated. Drawing on Scripture, papal teaching, and scientific research, the bishops emphasize the Eucharist as the source for living out this holistic vision that addresses social, economic, and environmental challenges facing the state.

Why it matters

The bishops' pastoral letter provides a comprehensive Catholic framework for addressing the ecological crisis in Indiana, which has faced significant environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and social inequities related to industrialized agriculture and fossil fuel dependence. By placing the Eucharist at the center, the bishops aim to inspire 'eucharistic lives' of thanksgiving, praise, and active stewardship of God's creation.

The details

The 32-page document, 'Integral Ecology: A Sacramental Vision,' was released on April 8, 2026 during the Jubilee Year of Hope. It examines the interconnected social, economic, and ecological challenges facing Indiana, including polluted waterways, loss of wetlands and biodiversity, the ravages of industrialized agriculture, and the exploitation of migrant farm workers. The bishops call for an 'ecological agricultural model' that prioritizes the ecosystem over profit, and they acknowledge the 'great spiritual and moral challenge' of navigating technology and wisdom in addressing these crises.

  • The pastoral letter was finalized on Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026.
  • It was released to the public on April 8, 2026, during the Jubilee Year of Hope.

The players

Indiana Catholic Conference

The organization that made the pastoral letter public on behalf of the Indiana Catholic bishops.

Cardinal Michael Czerny

The prefect of the Vatican's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, who commended the bishops' pastoral letter and extended Pope Leo XIV's blessing.

Pope Francis

The late pope whose 2015 encyclical 'Laudato Si' on integral ecology is a key influence on the Indiana bishops' vision.

Hilary B. Moore

The marine biologist who likely coined the term 'integral ecology' in 1958.

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What they’re saying

“The social, economic, and political reality of human life and poverty is not disconnected from environmental issues concerning polluted air, water, and land, decreasing biodiversity, and habitat destruction.”

— Indiana Catholic Bishops

“Creation and redemption go together. In the Eucharist, we see and experience the fullness of being both ecclesial and ecological citizens.”

— Indiana Catholic Bishops

What’s next

The Indiana Catholic Conference plans to host a series of regional town halls and educational events to discuss the pastoral letter's vision and encourage concrete actions by parishes, schools, and Catholic institutions to implement 'integral ecology' principles.

The takeaway

The Indiana bishops' pastoral letter provides a comprehensive Catholic framework for addressing the interconnected social, economic, and ecological crises facing the state. By rooting this 'integral ecology' in the Eucharist, the bishops aim to inspire a profound shift in how the faithful view their relationship and responsibility to both people and the natural world as part of God's creation.