| Benedict XVI appeals to the international community for
a joint effort in addressing climate issues
At the General Audience
on Wednesday, 26 August [2009], at Castel Gandolfo the Holy Father spoke
to the faithful gathered in the courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence
on the relationship between the Creator and ourselves as guardians of
his creation. The focus of the Audience, drawing on themes found in his
most recent Encyclical "Caritas in Veritate", is of significance for the
upcoming U.N. Meeting on the urgent issue of climate change. The
following is a translation of the Pope's Catechesis, which was given in
Italian.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We have almost reached the
end of August, which for many means the end of the summer holidays. As
we pick up our usual routine, how could we not thank God for the
precious gift of creation which we so enjoy, and not only during our
holidays!
The various phenomena of
environmental degradation and natural disasters which, unfortunately,
are often reported in the news remind us of the urgent need to respect
nature as we should, recovering and appreciating a correct relationship
with the environment in every day life.
A new sensitivity to these
topics that justly give rise to concern on the part of the Authorities
and of public opinion is developing and is expressed in the increasing
number of meetings, also at the international level.
The Earth is indeed a
precious gift of the Creator who, in designing its intrinsic order, has
given us bearings that guide us as stewards of his creation. Precisely
from within this framework, the Church considers matters concerning the
environment and its protection intimately linked to the theme of
integral human development. In my recent Encyclical, Caritas in
Veritate, I referred more than once to such questions,
recalling the "pressing moral need for renewed solidarity" (n. 49) not
only between countries but also between individuals, since the natural
environment is given by God to everyone, and our use of it entails a
personal responsibility towards humanity as a whole, and in particular
towards the poor and towards future generations (cf. n. 48).
Bearing in mind our common
responsibility for creation (cf. n. 51), the Church is not only
committed to promoting the protection of land, water and air as gifts of
the Creator destined to everyone but above all she invites others and
works herself to protect mankind from self-destruction. In fact, "when
'human ecology' is respected within society, environmental ecology also
benefits" (ibid.). Is it not true that an irresponsible use of
creation begins precisely where God is marginalized or even denied? If
the relationship between human creatures and the Creator is forgotten,
matter is reduced to a selfish possession, man becomes the "last word",
and the purpose of human existence is reduced to a scramble for the
maximum number of possessions possible.
The created world,
structured in an intelligent way by God, is entrusted to our
responsibility and though we are able to analyze it and transform it we
cannot consider ourselves creation's absolute master. We are called,
rather, to exercise responsible stewardship of creation, in order to
protect it, to enjoy its fruits, and to cultivate it, finding the
resources necessary for every one to live with dignity. Through the help
of nature itself and through hard work and creativity, humanity is
indeed capable of carrying out its grave duty to hand on the earth to
future generations so that they too, in turn, will be able to inhabit it
worthily and continue to cultivate it (cf. n. 50). For this to happen,
it is essential to develop "that covenant between human beings and the
environment, which should mirror the creative love of God" (Message
for the 2008 World Day of Peace, n. 7), recognizing that we all come
from God and that we are all journeying towards him. How important it is
then, that the international community and individual governments send
the right signals to their citizens to succeed in countering harmful
ways of treating the environment! The economic and social costs of using
up shared environmental resources must be recognized with transparency
and borne by those who incur them, and not by other peoples or future
generations. The protection of the environment, and the safeguarding of
resources and of the climate, oblige all international leaders to act
jointly respecting the law and promoting solidarity with the weakest
regions of the world (cf. Caritas in Veritate, n. 50).
Together we can build an integral human development beneficial for all
peoples, present and future, a development inspired by the values of
charity in truth. For this to happen it is essential that the current
model of global development be transformed through a greater, and
shared, acceptance of responsibility for creation: this is demanded not
only by environmental factors, but also by the scandal of hunger and
human misery.
Dear brothers and sisters,
let us now give thanks to the Lord and make our own the words of St
Francis found in "The Canticle of All Creatures":
Most High, all-powerful,
all-good Lord,
All praise is Yours, all glory, all honour and all blessings.
To you alone, Most High, do they belong,...
So says St Francis. We,
too, wish to pray and live in the spirit of these words.
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