Pope’s appeal to pray, reflect,
and act to safeguard creation
Pope Francis invites the faithful to pray, reflect and act
to protect an endangered environment in a message released to mark the World
Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.
By Lydia O’Kane
“Now is the time to rediscover our vocation as children of
God, brothers and sisters, and stewards of creation.” Those were the Pope’s
words in a message released for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of
Creation, which is observed on the 1st of September.
Taking inspiration from the Book of Genesis, Pope Francis
describes God’s gaze as “resting lovingly on his creation”.
But he goes on to say that, “tragically, the human response
to this gift has been marked by sin, selfishness and a greedy desire to possess
and exploit.”
“Egoism and self-interest”, he says, “have turned creation,
a place of encounter and sharing, into an arena of competition and
conflict. In this way, the environment itself is endangered”.
Increased environmental deterioration in our world
In his message the Pontiff highlights how the world has
experienced increased deterioration in recent decades.
He points to constant pollution, the continued use of fossil
fuels, intensive agricultural exploitation and deforestation, which he says,
“are causing global temperatures to rise above safe levels.”
The Pope also notes the increase in the intensity and frequency
of extreme weather phenomena and the desertification of the soil, which, he
adds, “are causing immense hardship for the most vulnerable among us.”
Pope Francis continues by saying that “melting of glaciers, scarcity of water,
neglect of water basins and the considerable presence of plastic and
microplastics in the oceans are equally troubling, and testify to the urgent
need for interventions that can no longer be postponed.”
Season of Creation
In effect, the Pope writes “we have forgotten who we are:
creatures made in the image of God.
The World Day of Prayer falls at the start of the Season of
Creation, an ecumenical initiative which runs until 4th October, the feast of
St Francis of Assisi. During this time the Pope is inviting the faithful
to pray, reflect and take action.
Prayer, Reflection, Action
Pope Francis underlines that “this is the season for letting
our prayer be inspired anew by closeness to nature, which spontaneously leads
us to give thanks to God the Creator.” Our prayers and appeals, he says, “are
directed first at raising the awareness of political and civil leaders”,
especially those governments “that will meet in the coming months to renew
commitments decisive for directing the planet towards life, not death.”
During this month, the Pope says that it is “a season to
reflect on our lifestyles, and how our daily decisions about food, consumption,
transportation, use of water, energy and many other material goods, can often
be thoughtless and harmful.”
Now is the time, he adds, “to abandon our dependence on
fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, towards forms of clean energy
and a sustainable and circular economy. Pope Francis also invites people
to learn from “indigenous peoples, whose age-old wisdom can teach us how to
live in a better relationship with the environment.”
In the message the Pope urges the faithful undertake
prophetic actions. “Many young people all over the world are making their
voices heard and calling for courageous decisions”, he comments.
Pope Francis stresses that, “we owe them real answers, not
empty words, actions not illusions.”
Amazon Synod and UN Climate Summit
Concluding his message, the Pope mentions two major events
that will take place over the coming months: The United Nations Climate
Action Summit and next month’s, Synod on the Amazon region, “Let us take up
these opportunities to respond to the cry of the poor and of our earth”, he
says.
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