Holy See diplomat: abandon uncontrolled consumerism to protect environment
July 04, 2014
Representing the Holy See at the first meeting of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA), Archbishop Charles Balvo greeted the new body “with joy” and cited a recent joint statement by Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on the need to protect the environment.
Archbishop Balvo, the apostolic nuncio to Kenya and South Sudan, told the UNEA that while the desire to moderate the consumption of goods was commendable, it was necessary to abandon the model of “an uncontrolled consumerism, an immeasurable enjoyment.”
Archbishop Balvo also called for an ethical reform of the economic order: “the current world economic system, manipulated by the powers of money,” does not favor the inclusion of the poor for the sake of the common good, he said. The prelate added that there was a need to pay greater attention to the “spiritual dimension” of sustainable development.
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Further information:
- Il consumismo incontrollato deve essere abbandonato (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 2)
- United Nations Environmental Assembly
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