Abstract
In recent years, the term "human ecology" has become a shibboleth within the Catholic Social Doctrine (CSD). In magisterial jargon, it describes a broader understanding of ecological issues, as well as a specific approach to environmental protection.
In the paper, the meanings of this term from the perspectives of the last three popes (St. John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis) are elucidated.
The CSD is committed to such an approach to the environment which is based on the principles of ecological interdependence between terrestrial nature and human societies. Moreover, the CSD strongly emphasizes not only the vertical relationship between nature and humans, or human communities amongst themselves but also the horizontal relationship of the individual towards her/his Creator, i.e.
God. Such an anthropocentrism is then rather weak when compared to one that completely subordinates nature to the total autonomy of man.