Vatican City, Dec 6, 2009 / 09:07 am
Following the recitation of the Angelus on Sunday, the Holy Father commented on the United Nations Conference on Climate Change which will begin on Monday in Copenhagen. He expressed his hope that the conference would uphold an attitude of respect and responsibility for creation.
The Pontiff’s poignant message was the latest in his work to raise awareness of nature, which has led some to name him "The Green Pope."
Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, he reiterated the same message he has given on other occasions. He stated his hope that the representatives at the conference, who come from most of the world’s nations, will help to localize actions that are "respectful of creation and that support development, grounded in the dignity of the human person and oriented to the common good."
For the safeguarding all of creation, Benedict XVI urged the adoption of "sober and responsible lifestyles, above all towards the poor and future generations."
He concluded saying, "to guarantee the full success of the conference, I invite all people of good will to respect the laws made by God in nature and rediscover the moral dimension of human life.
The Conference will convene government representatives from at least 170 countries, according its official website. The purpose of the summit is to evaluate and renew pledges made in the Kyoto protocol and to engage greater commitment from participating nations, especially in regard to carbon emissions.