Benedict XVI urges people to discover 'religious dimension' of environment

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Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 10, 2009 / 11:12 am (CNA).- Emphasizing the need to protect the environment, Pope Benedict XVI told a delegation of Spanish supporters this morning that the call for people to "discover its more profound spiritual and religious dimension" is also urgent.

The Holy Father made his comments as he addressed a group of sponsors of the Holy See's Pavilion at "Expo Zaragoza 2008," an international exposition focused on the theme, "Water and sustainable development." The event took place last year between June 14 and September 14 in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.

The international expo, sponsored by the Archdiocese of Zaragoza and the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace, included a display by the Holy See that focused on the "significance and primordial importance water has for human life."

A guided tour of the expo was divided into three stages: The first presented water as a life-source; the second displayed art associated with water and its role in Salvation History; and the third was dedicated to the many people who have limited access to this vital element and need to solve this problem.

Pope Benedict noted that the Vatican's pavilion was one of the "most visited and appreciated," and that it contained "an important display of the priceless artistic, cultural and religious heritage of the Church."

"By participating in the exposition," the Holy Father explained, "the Holy See wished to demonstrate not only the urgent need constantly to defend the environment and the natural world, but also to discover its more profound spiritual and religious dimension."

Reflecting on man's responsibility for protecting Creation, Pope Benedict said, "The truth is that when God, through creation, gave man the keys to the earth, He wanted him to use this great gift responsibly and respectfully, making it fruitful. ... In this context it is important to reiterate the close relationship between protection of the environment and respect for the ethical requirements of human nature, because 'when human ecology is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits.'"

Pope Benedict XVI concluded his remarks by entrusting the promoters of the Holy See pavilion to Our Lady of the Pillar "at whose feet flow the abundant waters of the River Ebro."

Comments: 5

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 09/15/2009 07:01 AM EST

DLL...of course I will pray for you; I pray for the conversion of Father Ratzinger and his "hierarchs" quite regularly. However..if he a theological genius, why would he have been on the heresy watchlist from the Holy Office during the days of Pius XII and Angelo Roncalli/John XXIII? Why does he constantly and so often go against what previous popes have said, condemned, and done (i.e. separation of Church and state and worship with non-Catholics)? Why does he hate St. Thomas Aquinas so much?

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass 09/14/2009 03:21 PM EST

It's all about evangelization of the whole world. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega or the beginning and the end. Only in Christ can humankind become acceptable to God.To maintain a physical environment all humankind must be recreated in Christ to the maintenance of a strong spiritual one. The Pope knows that when Christ began his ministry there was no such thing as a Christian. Like Christ,the Pope reaches out to all people,as well,that have all sorts of different religious belief systems. If one reads all of the magnificent books that this Pope has written than no one can doubt what a wonderful Man of God that he is. This Man is a theological genius. He is in no way belittling.He has a wonderful understanding of the Holy Trinity. Christian,my friend,if being overly critical was the way to God than we would all be SAINTS. Keep the Faith! Pray for the Pope! Pray for Me! Pray for Everybody! Pray the Rosary at least Everyday! I will Pray also for You!

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 09/14/2009 01:28 PM EST

DLL...how can he never talk about the Rosary, never offer the true Mass, pray with Mohammedans, go into synagogues, blaspheme the Trinity, and hardly ever mention the name of Christ so often, belittle infant baptism, deny transubstatiation, and the Apostles' Creed, and still be a holy, Christian Pope? I live by my name as best as I can...and I do none of these things. I pray often; I go to confession and receive the Sacraments as often as I can. I do not partake in false worship in any way and refuse to be united with those who do or defend it.

Published by: DLL
scituate Mass 09/14/2009 12:09 PM EST

Any one blessed with The Birth name of Christian,or who claims to be a Christian by affiliation with any Church,is to learn what it means to act and write with a Christian sense of love and respect,for a truly Christian and Holy Pope! Only humankind has the broad based intelligence by design,to understand the global based problems of the environment of the entire planet. The Pope appeals to all humanity to save the world and it's global environment because God gave humanity this responsibility.

Published by: Christian
Frankfort/KY/USA 09/10/2009 12:49 PM EST

Nero, as usual, is fiddling while Rome burns...and Rome is going to Hell on bread (invalid "Masses" and rites) and circuses (World Youth Days and verbal diversions such as these. O Lord...grant us a true Catholic Pope.

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