His Holiness, speaking in his monthly Pope Video for September, said countries and companies in the Global North exploit “natural gifts from the [Global] South, generating an ‘ecological debt.’
“Who is going to pay that debt?” he asked.
“Furthermore, the ‘ecological debt’ is enlarged when multinationals do outside their countries what they are not allowed to do in their own. It is outrageous.”
His message calling on all people to act comes as Christians around the world are preparing to start the Season of Creation, the annual celebration of prayer and action for our common home.
The ecumenical celebration starts Tuesday 1 September, the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, and concludes on 4 October, the feast day for St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology beloved by many Christian denominations.
Amid crises that have shaken our world, thousands of communities on six continents will heed the words of Pope Francis and other Christian leaders by participating in the Season of Creation.
Christians will seek to renew their relationship with the Creator and all creation through celebration, conversion, and commitment.
Communities will take part through in-person events, such as tree-planting ceremonies in ecologically-sensitive areas, prayer services for creation, and creation walks in which participants prayerfully discern how God is calling them to care for the world’s resources.
Global online events, including a series of webinars focused on a just transition from the COVID-19 pandemic, also will help Christians connect and unite as one family during this special time of the year.
Pope Francis concluded the short video with a prayer for creation. “Let us pray that the goods of the planet are not plundered, but are shared in a fair and respectful way.
“No to plundering, yes to sharing.”
“Today” is the time for all Christians to unite.
The entire message of Pope Francis’ September video is below:
We are squeezing the goods of the planet. Squeezing them, like an orange.
Countries and companies in the North have been enriched by exploiting natural gifts from the South, generating an “ecological debt”. Who is going to pay that debt?
Furthermore, the “ecological debt” is enlarged when multinationals do outside their countries what they are not allowed to do in their own. It is outrageous.
Today, not tomorrow, today, we have to take care of Creation with responsibility.
Let us pray that the goods of the planet are not plundered, but are shared in a fair and respectful way.
No to plundering, yes to sharing.