"For the past several years, our nation has faced a tragic eruption of widespread violence that has directly impacted the African-American community as well as the law enforcement communities in too many different locations – including this City of Baltimore," the archbishop reflected.
The violence has put neighbors "on edge" and has threatened the peace of neighborhoods.
"We Americans have begun to discuss our common future as though the civil rights achievements of the past generation had not taken place," he said. "Our public language has grown so more severe and offensive."
"Some people have begun to question if not even to doubt our future as a home community unified by a sense of national identity," Archbishop Gregory continued.
He noted the U.S. bishops' conference has worked to discuss these trends. Archbishop Gregory praised the leadership of the Archbishop of Baltimore William E. Lori in aiding an ecumenical and inter-faith response to the Baltimore unrest. These efforts are "signs of hope," he said.
Returning to environmental issues, Archbishop Gregory said the Atlanta archdiocese partnered with the University of Georgia's environmental department to prepare a local response to the encyclical.
The archbishop lamented the "destructive exploitation" and the "wanton damage" done to the environment and reminded his audience that the poor are especially harmed by environmental destruction.
He cited the example of St. Francis of Assisi, who "saw God's fingerprints throughout every element of creation."
In the face of threats to the earth from technological exploitation and greed, he suggested Catholics need to ask St. Francis "to rekindle within each one of us a share of his profound spirit of wonder, awe and gratitude for God's creation."
"Without the benefit of our modern scientific acumen and expertise," he noted, "Saint Francis was able to view all of nature as a precious treasure that God has entrusted to us to be shared and preserved for those who will follow us."