Pope’s message for World Day of Peace on environment
(Dec.15, 2009): The environment is God’s gift to everyone, and in our use of it,
we have a responsibility toward the poor, toward future generations and toward Humanity
as a whole, said Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the Catholic Church’s annual World
Day of Peace to be marked on January 1st. The Papal message, titled “If
you want to cultivate peace, safeguard Creation,” was released at a Press Conference
on Tuesday by Cardinal Renato Martino, former President of Vatican’s Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace. The Pope’s message stressed that the current ecological
crises is affecting the entire world, therefore, protecting the natural environment
is a challenge all people must face together, recognizing they have an obligation
to respect a gift God created for all. Preservation has now become essential for
the pacific coexistence of mankind, said the peace message. Stating that Man’s inhumanity
to man has given rise to numerous threats to peace and to the authentic and integral
human development, the Pope’s message mentioned wars, international and regional conflicts,
acts of terrorism and violations of human rights. No less threatening are the threats
arising from the misuse of the earth and the natural goods that God has given us,
it said. Stating that large numbers of people in different countries are experiencing
increased hardship because of the refusal of many others to exercise responsible stewardship
over the environment, the papal message said a greater sense of inter-generational
solidarity is urgently needed. Stressing that future generations cannot be saddled
with our neglect of the environment, the Papal message called on the international
community for joint and sustainable strategies to satisfy the energy needs of the
present and future generations. Encouragement needs to be given, it said for research
into effective ways of exploiting the immense potential of solar energy. The Church
has a responsibility towards creation, and she considers it her duty to exercise that
responsibility in public life, in order to protect the environment for Humanity, it
said. Affirming that the protection of creation and peacemaking are profoundly
linked, the Pope called on world leaders and all those concerned for the future of
Humanity, to take to heart the urgent appeal of his message - “If you want to cultivate
peace, protect Creation”.