Pope appeals for peace, calls for greater responsibility towards environment

January 05, 2010

In his Angelus address on the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God-- which the Church also commemorated as the 43rd World Day of Peace-- Pope Benedict appealed to individuals and families to develop a greater sense of responsibility for care of the environment.

“An objective shared by everyone, an indispensable condition for peace, is that of administering with justice and wisdom the natural resources of the earth,” the Pontiff said, adding:

"If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation" is the very relevant theme to which I have dedicated my message for the 43rd World Day of Peace, [celebrated] today. As the message was being published, the leaders of states and governments were gathered in Copenhagen for the summit on climate [change], where once again the urgency of common accords at the global level was discussed. Nevertheless, in this moment, I would like to highlight the importance that each one's decisions have in defending the environment-- the decisions of families and local administrations. "We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new lifestyles" (cf. Message, No. 11). In reality, all of us are responsible for the protection and care of the created world.

Appealing for peace, he continued, “If we should care for the creatures that surround us, what consideration we should have for people, our brothers and sisters! What respect for human life! On the first day of the year, I would like to call out to the consciences of those who form part of armed groups of any kind. To each and every one, I say: Stop, reflect and abandon the path of violence!”

 

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Further information:

• Le Parole Del Papa Alla Recita Dell’Angelus (Holy See)
• On Beginning a New Year (Zenit)
• We Are All Responsible for the Creation (VIS)
• Background: Papal message for January 1, the World Day of Peace (CWN, 12/31)