In his message for the
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation and the Season of Creation, Pope
Francis reflects on the Biblical significance of the Jubilee, as evoked by the
theme of the Season of Creation, "Jubilee of the Earth".
By Vatican News
Messaggio del Santo Padre per la celebrazione della VI Giornata Mondiale di Preghiera per la Cura del Creato (1° settembre 2020)
[ Arabo - Francese - Inglese - Italiano - Polacco - Portoghese - Spagnolo - Tedesco ]
As the September 1 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation kicks off the month-long Season of Creation, Pope Francis offers a profound reflection on respect for the earth, its resources, the evils caused by man and the need for "restorative justice" such as debt cancellation for poor countries.
Cries of the earth and of the poor
The Pope in his message explains that
“the pandemic has brought us to a crossroads.”. “We must use this
decisive moment,” he says, “to end our superfluous and destructive goals and
activities, and to cultivate values, connections and activities that are
life-giving.” “We must examine our habits of energy usage, consumption,
transportation, and diet. We must eliminate the superfluous and
destructive aspects of our economies, and nurture life-giving ways to trade,
produce, and transport goods.”
The Pope notes that the “the cries of
the earth and of the poor have become even louder and more painful in recent
years”. But, he says, it is wonderful to witness how the Holy Spirit is
inspiring individuals, and communities around the world to come together to
protect the poor, the land and rebuild our common home and defend the most
vulnerable in our midst. Young people, communities and indigenous people,
he continues, are on the frontlines in responding to the ecological
crisis. They are calling for a Jubilee for the earth and a new beginning,
aware that “things can change”.
Rampant greed and consumption
The Pope reminds us that “we cannot
live in harmony with creation if we are not at peace with the Creator who is
the source and origin of all things”. The Jubilee is a time for thinking
once again of our fellow human beings, especially the poor and the most
vulnerable, to share the common heritage of creation in a “spirit of
conviviality, not in competitive scramble but in joyful fellowship, supporting
and protecting one another”.
The Jubilee is also a time to listen
to the land, to hear the voice of creation and return to our rightful place in
the natural created order, remembering that we are part of this interconnected
web of life, not its masters.
“The disintegration of biodiversity,
spiralling climate disasters, and unjust impact of the current pandemic on the
poor and vulnerable,” the Pope says, are a “wakeup call in the face of our
rampant greed and consumption”.
A jubilee, the Pope says, is a time
to set free the oppressed such as the indigenous people who face injustice and
others who are subjected to various forms of modern slavery, such as
trafficking in persons and child labour.
Debt cancellation
The Jubilee is also time for
restorative justice, the Pope says renewing his “call for the cancellation of
the debt of the most vulnerable countries, in recognition of the severe impacts
of the medical, social and economic crises they face as a result of
Covid-19”.
This also calls for ensuring that the
recovery packages being developed and deployed at global, regional and national
levels be regeneration packages. Policy, legislation and investment must
be focused on the common good and guarantee that global social and
environmental goals are met.
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