On this Earth Day, we want to remember how important it is to safeguard this gift that God has entrusted to us. The Earth, the planet on which we live, is a good of which humanity, although at the summit of creation, is not the master but the guardian, and must answer to God for it. It is important to remember this and become increasingly aware of it.
“The divine harmony between creatures and creation”
Pope Francis has repeatedly reminded us of the importance of caring for the Earth and warned: “Humanity’s relationship with nature must not be guided by greed, manipulation, and exploitation, but must preserve the divine harmony between creatures and creation, according to the logic of respect and care, in order to place it at the service of our brothers and sisters, including future generations.” The Church addresses care for the environment not to provide scientific or political recipes or solutions, but only to draw attention to the great values at stake, which deeply affect people and the world in which they live. Its sole intention is to stimulate deep reflection and promote, with prophetic enthusiasm, “a courageous cultural revolution” (Laudato si’, no. 114), in the light of reason and, above all, faith.
The importance of an integral ecology
In the encyclical Laudato si’, Pope Francis explains the importance of an integral ecology, in which care for creation, equality toward the poor, commitment to society, as well as joy and inner peace are inseparable. In the six chapters of the Encyclical, the Pope emphasizes that our mistreated and plundered earth is calling for an “ecological conversion,” a “change of course” so that people may responsibly commit themselves to “caring for our common home.” This commitment also includes eradicating poverty, caring for the poor, and ensuring equal access for all to the Planet’s resources. Pope Francis encourages us by saying that “the Creator does not abandon us; he never turns back from his plan of love, nor does he regret having created us. Humanity still has the capacity to work together to build our common home.”
Before it is too late
Pope Francis dedicates another document to the climate crisis, sounding the alarm and calling for shared responsibility in the face of the climate change emergency, before it is too late.
In Laudate Deum, he not only makes a clear, well-documented denunciation of the irreparable damage humanity is inflicting on Creation, but also puts forward a proposal to address and resolve the situation, pointing believers toward the biblical and spiritual reasons for the commitment they are called to embrace. Each of us can and must do something: “The simple fact of changing personal, family and community habits fuels concern about the unfulfilled responsibilities of political sectors and indignation at the indifference of the powerful. It should be noted, therefore, that, even if this does not immediately produce a highly significant effect from a quantitative point of view, it contributes to bringing about major processes of transformation that work from within society” (no. 71).
From recycling to many other good daily practices, each of us must feel personally responsible for the great gift God has given us. Through small and great actions, we are called to care for “Sister Mother Earth.”
And which good practices are you adopting to protect her? Write it in the comments.
