Pope Benedict XVI has called on all states and the international community to take common urgent action to protect the natural environment.

His call came in his message for the next World Day of Peace which the Catholic Church will celebrate worldwide on Jan. 1, 2010. The Vatican sent the message to all world leaders.

The Vatican released the message on Dec. 15 as leaders from 192 countries attending the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen struggled to reach an agreement on how to combat global warming.

In the message, entitled “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation,” Pope Benedict reminds world leaders that “it would be irresponsible not to take seriously” the “signs of a growing crisis.”

That crisis, he said, includes “climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, and the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions.”

It also gives rise to “the growing phenomenon of ‘environmental refugees,’” he added.

The Pope indicated some concrete ways to address the crisis, such as the use of solar energy and by giving attention to the problem of water.

Above all, he insisted on the urgent need for humanity to engage in “a profound cultural renewal” so as to “rediscover” values — such as solidarity — that can serve as a “basis for building a brighter future for all.”

He emphasized the role civil society, NGOs and the Church can play in promoting this cultural renewal.

“We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new lifestyles,” he stated.

He called for the development of “a broad global vision” that gives rise to “a responsible common effort to move beyond approaches based on selfish nationalistic interests towards a vision constantly open to the needs of all peoples.”

The message was presented at a Vatican press conference by Cardinal Renato Martino, former president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who described it as “a realistic, but never catastrophic reading of the current ecological crisis.”

He said Pope Benedict “underlines the negative effects of human conduct, but without ever losing hope in the intelligence and dignity of man” to resolve the crisis. Indeed, the Pope sees this crisis as “a providential opportunity” for humanity to change direction, said the cardinal.

Source:  Pope warns of looming ecological crisis (UCAN)

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