a letter from pope francis
Pope Francis has written a letter addressed to every person on this planet, asking us all to protect our common home… The Earth.
The earth is God’s gift to us, full of beauty and wonder. And it belongs to everyone.
But what we see today is that our common home has never been so hurt and mistreated.
We have developed at a greater speed than we could have ever imagined. We have treated the earth as if it has an unlimited supply of resources. We have taken more than our fair share from most people on the planet, as well as future generations. We have cut down the earth’s natural forests, polluted the earth’s waters, its land and its air. The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.
We are using more and more polluting fossil fuels, which is contributing to climate change. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face today. It will affect us all, but it will be the poorest communities who will suffer the most.
Despite these problems, we are not slowing down on how much we consume and throw away; leaving a trail of waste and destruction. We cannot continue like this.
We can change, and we can make a new start. The whole human family needs to work together to care for our planet earth so that we sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
So let’s put love for the world and love for our neighbours, into action, by living together in harmony, and caring for nature.
Will you play your part to look after our common home? Can you take simple everyday eco-actions to care for the earth, like turning off lights, reducing water waste and recycling? Will you live more simply, reducing the amount of things we buy and throw away, so that we don’t take more than our fair share?
The world can’t wait! So let’s make that start today. Play your part to protect our common home.
Signed Pope Francis
Laudato Si
Pope Francis’ encyclical letter on human ecology, Laudato Si’ is the Church’s most profound clarion call yet for us all to be protectors of creation and the poor. The Encyclical calls for a new global solidarity, where all individuals, communities and governments have an essential part to play. Out of love for our sisters and brothers worldwide, and for the love of God’s creation, we are called to respond.
prayer for the earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, That we may protect life and beauty Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
From Pope Francis in Laudate Si