2024年03月29日, 週五

His Holiness Pope Francis Calls for Urgent Action to Protect the Earth and Her Inhabitants

By News Team

 

On June 18, 2015, His Holiness Pope Francis released a historic encyclical on the environment, reminding, at this critical time, that every being is important in maintaining the balance of our planet. The encyclical, a 184-page document titled Laudato Si’ (Praise Be to You), On Care for Our Common Home, references St. Francis of Assisi’s love and respect for all animals and creation. His Holiness addresses climate change and its effects, such as biodiversity loss, environmental destruction and the increased suffering of our disadvantaged co-citizens, highlighting the importance of all life in sustaining an ecosystem: “Because all creatures are connected, each must be cherished with love and respect, for all of us as living creatures are dependent on one another.”

As more and more species are going extinct and environmental degradation continues, His Holiness emphasizes that underprivileged people are the most severely affected. His Holiness writes, “We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.” Warning that detrimental human activity such as deforestation for agricultural purposes and intensive use of fossil fuels aggravates the urgent environmental issue of global warming, His Holiness calls on humanity to “recognize the need for changes of lifestyle, production and consumption.”

Concurring with His Holiness Pope Francis’ message concerning the effects of human activity, numerous studies have warned against the devastating impacts of the livestock industry, which accounts for at least 51% of greenhouse gases. In recognition of the link between the cruel treatment of animals, environmental destruction and climate change, more and more people are adopting the vegan lifestyle, which respects life, conserves resources, helps protect our Earth and our ability to better care for each other. Indeed, His Holiness writes: “Everything is related, and we human beings are united as brothers and sisters on a wonderful pilgrimage, woven together by the love God has for each of his creatures and which also unites us in fond affection with brother sun, sister moon, brother river and mother earth.”

Our respectful gratitude, Your Holiness Pope Francis, for sharing such a compassionate and inspiring message with the world. We pray that humanity quickly heeds your call by joining hands to safeguard our precious planet and all who live here. May all adopt the more gentle vegan lifestyle so every being may flourish on Earth in peace.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credit: Pope Francis in March 2013-presidencia.gov.ar-Wikimedia Commons-(edit)-CC BY-SA 2.0