Thirteen international theologians, ethicists, scientists and economists explain the spiritual, moral and practical themes of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment in a new book edited by University of Dayton theologian Vincent Miller.

Miller, the University's Gudorf Chair in Catholic Theology and Culture who is a frequent contributor to America magazine and has written on how consumerism and globalization affects religious beliefs, compiled the book as "a guide for anyone exploring issues raised by Laudato Si' but who lacks the specialist knowledge required to know where to begin."

The Theological and Ecological Vision of Laudato Si': Everything is Connected addresses the connections between the theology of creation and science, offers a spiritual vision of love and responsibility for creation, explores the connection between Christian solidarity with the poor and concern for the environment, and situates Francis's encyclical in the history of Church teaching.

Tobias Winright, the Hubert Mäder endowed chair of healthcare ethics and an associate professor in the Albert Gnaegi Center for Health Care Ethics at Saint Louis University, recommended the book as "impressive for both its breadth and depth."

"I regard this collection...as a go-to resource for anyone who seeks to answer Pope Francis's call to address climate change and to care for creation," Winright added.

Contributing authors from the University of Dayton include Bob Brecha, Hanley Sustainability Institute director of research and frequent visiting scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, and Sandra Yocum, University Professor of Faith and Culture who has written three books and more than 30 journal articles and book chapters, much of it dealing with Catholicism's intersection with American culture.

Other contributors include a former co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and come from the Center for Theology, Science and Human Flourishing; University of Notre Dame, Xavier University (Ohio), Loyola University (Maryland), the Andover Newton Theological School, Columbia University's Earth Institute, the Berlin Institute of Technology, the Hertie School for Governance, Creighton University and the College of Saint Elizabeth.

The book is available on the Bloomsbury Publishing and Amazon websites.