The encyclical is divided into six chapters, the first of which explains the motive for the encyclical: “…our common home is falling into serious disrepair.” The second, “The Gospel of Creation,” explains why this should be of concern to Catholics, and indeed to all Christians, by considering our place in creation. The third chapter covers the roots of our collective failure to be stewards of creation. The fourth chapter ties together social and environmental problems. The fifth chapter suggests solutions to environmental problems at the national and international levels. The final chapter, drawing on the Christian spiritual tradition, offers guidelines for educating people in regard to proper treatment of the environment.

Pope Francis describes it as a “Social Encyclical” (6) which borrows the title of the “Admonitions” of Saint Francis of Assisi, who used these words to “address his brothers and sisters and proposed to them a way of life marked by the flavour of the Gospel” (Par 1). The Encyclical aims to promote a universal aspiration toward fraternity and social friendship. In the background of the Encyclical is the Covid-19 pandemic which, Francis reveals, “unexpectedly erupted” as he “was writing this letter”. But the global health emergency has helped demonstrate that “no one can face life in isolation” and that the time has truly come to “dream, then, as a single human family” in which we are “brothers and sisters all” (Par 8).

This section of Fratelli Tutti has eight paragraphs that note the inspiration for this encyclical, its connection to Laudato Si’, and its connection to Francis’ visit to Sultan Malik-el-Kamil.

Pope Francis calls us to remember that all peoples have a common father and therefore we are all brothers and sisters. But today, there are many trends that hinder fraternity.

After painting the dark landscape of our global situation in Chapter One, Pope Francis leads us to light through the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10:25- 37).

Our Holy Father calls us to recognize the dignity of each and every person and the inherent desire that each of us has for loving relationships in our lives.

This chapter has three sections: Borders and Their Limits; Reciprocal Gifts; and Local and Universal. It treats issues that come to the fore when we move from generalizations about “a global village” and must deal with the complexities of immigration.

When we seek and work toward social fraternity and social justice for all, for a social and political order with social charity as its soul, this is charity at its most vast: political charity.

In the chapter’s four sections—Social Dialogue for a New Culture, The BASIS of Consensus, A New Culture, and Recovering Kindness—Pope Francis engages us to look beyond retrenchment into individualism and isolation in light of the pluralistic societal reality of the current world.

Individually and together we must commit and work to eradicate the oppression and selfish greed that dehumanizes others for personal or national gain.

In the final chapter, Pope Francis talks about true religion and emphasizes that only erroneous interpretations of religious texts lead to terrorism.