Pope Francis’ encyclicals in a world in polycrisis: an emancipatory narrative in international politics

Abstract

This essay explores the role of Pope Francis in today’s international context, characterized by a state of polycrisis—an overlapping set of interconnected environmental, economic, political, and social crises. Drawing on his encyclicals Laudato si’ (2015) and Fratelli tutti (2020), the essay highlights how the Pope articulates an emancipatory narrative that challenges both dystopian imaginaries and the dominant technocratic paradigm. His perspective offers a structural critique of the current global order, emphasizing the need for new forms of international cooperation, environmental justice, and solidarity among peoples. The essay also examines his diplomatic actions as head of the Catholic Church, particularly regarding peripheral conflicts and global inequalities, advancing a worldview grounded in interdependence, peace, and cultural diversity.