The Supreme Pontiff urges Christians to beg for God’s forgiveness for destroying the environment.
In what can be called a very drastic and radical departure from traditional Catholic concepts of “sin,” “charity” and good deeds, Pope Francis has actually called the act of destroying environment a “sin.” This is perhaps the first time a leader of an Abrahamic religion has spoken so much about environmental issues. The supreme leader of the Catholic Church has issued a letter for the World Day of Prayer for The Care of Creation in which he has urged all Christians to redouble their efforts towards environment protection.
Pope Focuses on Climate; Says It Is a Sin To Destroy Nature[/tweetthis]
While traditional notions of charity and mercy translate as feeding the hungry, visiting the sick or sheltering the homeless, the Pope has surprised the world again by adding an all new dimension to these good works- nature. The Pope points out at the environment as one of the most troubled and distressed aspect of the world which needs to be taken care of by all people, as it is the common home for all.
Pope Francis @Pontifex: Straight up, global warming is a 'sin.' And that's his department. https://t.co/WxGdVAjPld
— Bill McKibben (@billmckibben) September 2, 2016
The Pope even went to the extent of proposing that caring for the environment should be added to the traditional seven acts of mercy that Christians are enjoined by the Church to perform, which happens to be one of the most unconventional and unusual proposals to have been made by a religious leader. However, this proposal only emphasizes the importance that the Bishop of Rome places on environment protection. This also happens to echo his last year’s ecologically themed encyclical, in which he observes that the world has been turned into a pile of filth due to a corrupt system where the wealthy exploit the poor.
Orthodox, who began Day of Prayer for Creation, & other ecumenical leaders join #PopeFrancis for vespers pic.twitter.com/QQWOnwXnut
— Catholic News Svc (@CatholicNewsSvc) September 1, 2016
The Pope has earlier described the earth of today as “a polluted wasteland full of debris, desolation and filth” caused by the sinful destruction of nature by man.
The Pope ruefully observed that while 2015 was declared to be the warmest year, the current year is set to be even warmer. As such, he has reminded the faithful about the looming truth of global warming, which he says will eventually lead to “severe droughts, floods, fires and extreme weather conditions.”
The Pope’s biggest concern is the plight of the refugees, who he says will be the worst affected by the changing environmental conditions. Poor and desolate, he believes that refugees will be most vulnerable to weather change than anyone else. As a reparation for the destruction that mankind has caused to environment, the Pope has also urged Christians to utilize the whole “Year of Mercy” to ask pardon from God for the “sins committed against nature motivated by profit at any price.”