Pope Benedict XVI. To the participants of Conference on Tourism

(September 27, 2008) Humanity has a duty to protect this treasure of environment and to commit against an indiscriminate use of the earth. Without proper ethical and moral limits on human behaviour this can become a threat and challenge, said Pope Benedict XVI. He was speaking in Rome on the World Tourism Day, Saturday, 27th of September, to the representatives of Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, including Cardinal Martino the President and Archbishop Agostino Marchetto, the Secretary, together with Youth Centre Tourism and other groups. He touched on this year's theme - Tourism faces the challenge of climate change - it is a very topical issue, which refers to the potential of the tourism sector in respect of the state of the planet and the welfare of humanity where each one is responsible for the use of resources given by God to humanity. He then added that learning to respect the environment teaches all to respect others and themselves. Environmental degradation can be curbed only by spreading a culture of proper use of resources including a sober life style. The Holy Father also emphasised that the humanity of today should "be conscious of its duties and responsibilities towards future generations" Moreover, the Pope added, the Church shares with their institutions and other organizations the commitment to spread the social tourism, which promotes the participation of the weakest and thus can be a valuable tool for combating poverty, providing jobs, protecting the resources and promoting equality. Finally the Holy Father extended an invitation to young people that through these institutions they may be supporters of environment with the ecological perspective.