Christian responsibility for the environment

Before Christmas in a speech to the Roman Curia on December 23, 2008, His Holiness Benedict XVI in a special way gave attention to the question of Christian responsibility for the environment, the basis of which is our faith in God the Creator. The Pope noted in particular that the Earth is not simply property which can be used according to our interests and wishes but we are called to be faithful «guardians of creation.» The Pontiff called the Church to serve the rescue of the environment. He said that the Church today can not be limited to spiritual sermons. According to Pope Benedict XVI, «The Church carries responsibility for all creation and is obliged to implement this responsibility in action.» Moreover, the Holy Father noted that “the Church must not simply guard the earth, water and air as God’s gifts which belong to all,» but foremost it must take care to form a healthy «ecology of man,» protecting him from self-destruction.

Information Service of the Ecological Center
of the Ivano-Frankivs’k Eparchy of the UGCC