(April 27, 2007) Pope Benedict XVI joined his voice to those encouraging the protection
of creation and respect for the environment. The Pope's appeal came in a telegram
signed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican secretary of state, and sent to some
80 scholars and experts from 20 countries who participated in a 2-day seminar sponsored
by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. The conference that ended
on Friday, examined "Climate Change and Development." The Holy Father invited everyone
to adopt "a way of living, models of production and consumption marked by respect
for creation and the need for sustainable development of peoples, keeping in mind
the universal distribution of goods, as is so often mentioned in the Church's social
doctrine." The Pontiff's message expressed "sincere appreciation" for this meeting,
which studied the "problems relating to the environment, ethics, economics and the
political and social life with repercussions for the weakest members of society."