In his statement, he also pointed to the Church’s role.
“The Church following the teaching of Jesus from the Social Doctrine throughout time has exhorted believers to work for the common good,” he said, “which requires dignifying life in all its forms and stages, caring for the common home, committing to the construction of more just supportive, fraternal, and peaceful societies among other fundamental elements.”
Humanity is a part of creation, he recalled.
“Often when we speak of creation, it is related to nature, animals, landscapes, the sun, the moon but not often enough to become aware that the human being is the culmination of the Father’s creative work,” he said.
He called the Season of Creation a “celebration that helps us recognize and to contemplate the beauty and goodness of nature and all that dwells in it and to care for our common home,” in which all are invited to prayer, promoting sustainability, and engaging in advocacy.
Pfeifer also noted the role of governments and nations in caring for the environment.
“Everyone can participate: believers and non-believers because we are all called to live in harmony, being responsible stewards of our common home which implies that we all must commit ourselves to care for life in all its forms, remembering that caring does not refer just to protection, but necessarily implies loving, contemplating, actively taking part, and feeling part of God’s creative work,” he said. “The Season of Creation is a splendid time for us to reflect on the importance of ecological conversion, to work towards achieving an Integral Ecology of all nature with humans and above all to recognize that the entire creation speaks of the beauty of its creator.”
Former Washington, D. C., correspondent Katie Yoder covered pro-life issues, the U.S. Catholic bishops, public policy, and Congress for Catholic News Agency. She previously worked for Townhall.com, National Review, and the Media Research Center.