At last the Pope has jumped on nature’s band-wagon.
In early September, Pope Benedict joined about 300,000 young Roman Catholics for an eco-friendly festival at the shrine of Loreto, in Italy. Wearing green vestments, the pontiff told the crowd it was up to them to save the planet from development which often upset “nature’s delicate equilibrium” saying “Before it’s too late, we need to make courageous choices that will recreate a strong alliance between man and Earth. … We need a decisive ‘yes’ to care for creation and a strong commitment to reverse those trends that risk making the situation of decay irreversible.” He focused on water, which he described as a “precious” resource and a potential source of tension and conflict. Each participant received a free knapsack made out of recycled plastic containing a hand-cranked battery charger, plates and cutlery made from bio-degradable plastic and bags for tying up their rubbish when they leave.
The Pope is also practising what he preaches. He is installing solar panels on the roof of the main audience hall at the Vatican and is paying for a forestry project to offset the Vatican’s carbon emissions.
Wouldn’t it be great if all Catholics followed this example!
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