In his World Day of Peace Message for 2010, Pope Benedict has called for urgent action to protect the environment based on a “cosmic vision of peace”.

Citing climate change and natural catastrophes threaten the rights to life, food, health - and ultimately peace, the pope argued that the world’s economic, social, and environmental problems are moral crises that require mankind to rethink its way of living, AP reports.

“We can no longer do without a real change of outlook which will result in new life-styles,” he said, touching again on a theme that has earned him a reputation as the “green pope.”

Benedict called on advanced societies to adopt “more sober lifestyles,” reducing energy consumption and favoring energy-efficient policies. He encouraged research into ways to exploit solar energy, to manage forests and to improve waste disposal.
Action is more pressing than ever “in the face of signs of a growing crisis which it would be irresponsible not to take seriously,” he said.

Introducing the message in the Holy See Press Office Cardinal Renato Martino, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, recalled how, in previous Messages, Pope Benedict had spoken of peace as “a gift of God in Truth” (2006), as “the fruit of respect for the human person” (2007), as “an expression of the communion of the human family” and as “a call to eliminate all forms of poverty, material and immaterial” (2009).

In this year’s Message, Pope Benedict presents “a cosmic vision of peace” a peace which “comes about in a state of harmony between God, humankind and the creation”, Cardinal Martino said.

“In this perspective, environmental degradation is an expression not only of a break in the harmony between humankind and the creation, but of a profound deterioration in the unity between humankind and God”, said the cardinal.

Cardinal Martino also noted the Pope’s deliberate decision to dedicate his Message this year to the theme of ecology, as it coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the proclamation of St Francis of Assisi, author of the ‘Laudes Creaturarum’, as patron saint of the environment.

SOURCE

Pope calls for action on climate change ^[1] (Associated Press)

Benedict XVI presents a cosmic vision of peace ^[2] (Vatican Information Service)