Pope Francis on Monday renewed his
appeal to recognize our shared responsibility to protect the
planet during a meeting at the Vatican with organizers of the
Green&Blue Festival in Rome and Milan to coincide with World
Environment Day on June 5.
"Experts clearly point out how the choices and actions put in
place this decade will have an impact for thousands of years,"
said the pope.
"Our knowledge about the impact of our actions on our Common
Home and those who inhabit it, and will inhabit it, has
expanded," he continued, drawing attention to the ever-more
extreme natural disasters across the globe.
Greater knowledge has brought with it a greater sense of
responsibility "before God, who has entrusted us with the care
of creation, before our neighbors and before future
generations", the pope added, recalling that it is the "poorest
and most fragile (people) who contribute the least to the
phenomenon, but suffer from it the most".
"It is necessary today for the entire international community to
put as a priority the implementation of collegial,
solidarity-based and forward-looking actions," recognizing "the
magnitude, urgency and beauty of the challenge before us," said
Francis, calling for "a decisive change in the current model of
consumption and production".
"Changing this model is 'urgent' and can no longer be
postponed," he added, insisting on the need for "a culture of
care" that places human dignity and the common good at the
centre.
"Let us not rob the new generations of hope in a better future,"
concluded Francis.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
