Monday, January 11, 2010

Protect creation through education, Pope tells diplomats


Pope Benedict XVI

Vatican City, Jan 11, 2010 / 10:37 am (CNA).- The Holy Father addressed the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See on Monday morning for what some call “the state of the world address.” Gathered in the Sala Regia of the Apostolic Palace, the diplomats to the Vatican heard a message that reiterated the Pontiff’s hope for a new consciousness that pursues peace in the world through the protection of creation.

Pope Benedict made it a point to repeat once again the sentiment proposed in his encyclical, “Caritas in Veritate” that the causes of the global economic crisis and consequent social instability can be found in “a current self-centered and materialistic way of thinking which fails to acknowledge the limitations inherent in every creature.”

The Pope cited the example of the communist regime in Berlin as an illustration of the way the “denial of God distorts the freedom of the human person, yet also devastates creation.”

He added that “the protection of creation is not principally a response to an aesthetic need, but much more to a moral need...”

The threats to man and creation, including nature, said the Pontiff, must be addressed “within the framework of a great educational program aimed at promoting an effective change of thinking and creating new lifestyles.” To achieve this, he said, freedom for cooperation and shared responsibility must be provided for between secular and religious communities.
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See also:

From Zenit, "Papal Address to Diplomatic Corps: "To Cultivate Peace, One Must Protect Creation"

VIS-Press release, "Defence of Creation, Focus of Pope's Address to Diplomats"

From Catholic News Service, "Selfishness, lack of respect for life lead to destruction, pope says"

From Asia News, "Respect for nature starts with respect for man and all his rights, says Pope"

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