Moving beyond nature’s beauty
‘The earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations.’
Saint Pope John Paul II
For decades now different popes have taught that caring for creation is not an optional extra to our faith but a core requirement for Christ’s followers. Pope Benedict XVI who had solar panels installed at the Vatican, reminded us that defending nature is defending the Creator’s design. ‘Respect for creation is of immense consequence,’ Benedict said,’ not least because ‘creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind.’
Then just over ten years ago came Pope Francis’s groundbreaking encyclical, Laudato Si’, which permanently elevated environmental justice to the center of Catholic social teaching. Francis taught us that the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are deeply intertwined. ‘Creation,’ Francis wrote, ‘is not a property, which we can rule over at will; or, even less, is the property of only a few: Creation is a gift, it is a wonderful gift that God has given us, so that we care for it and we use it for the benefit of all, always with great respect and gratitude.’
Today, Pope Leo XIV carries fresh energy and urgency to his predecessors messages, urging the global faithful to champion the annual Season of Creation and integrate ecological conversion into daily parish life.
As Catholics, celebrating creation means moving beyond simply appreciating nature’s beauty. It demands an ‘integral ecology’a lifestyle shift that rejects a throwaway culture, protects vulnerable communities disproportionately affected by environmental degradation, and respects the boundaries of our planet. When we protect the environment, we protect human dignity. We can answer the call to become true stewards, transforming our parishes into hubs of sustainability and our hearts to echo some of St Francis of Assisi’s joy and passion for creation. Praise be you my Lord with all your creatures’ (Canticle of the Sun).
Paul Clayton-Lea
Editor
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