Spokesman says care of environment common theme for Pope Benedict

Published: 2008-01-07

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The obligation to care for the environment and protect the earth as the "common home" of all humanity is a theme that increasingly is found in the teaching of Pope Benedict XVI, his spokesman said. Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi told Vatican Radio that ecology "is an argument which comes up with more frequency in the words of the pope, mirroring the growing ecological concerns of humanity." Father Lombardi spoke to the radio Jan. 5, explaining why concern for the environment was one of the major themes in Pope Benedict's message for the Jan. 1 celebration of World Peace Day. Father Lombardi told the radio, "Until recently, the theme of the environment seemed like a concern of the rich rather than the poor, of developed countries rather than developing nations for whom economic growth is an absolute priority. To regulate and limit this growth seemed like a luxury, a way of keeping the weak subjugated." Now, however, people are realizing that ecological exploitation and destruction worsens the effects of natural disasters and mortgages the future of the poorest countries, he said.

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