At the beginning of every New Year, the Pope issues a message for the World Day of Peace. This year’s message bears the title, ‘If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.’ What is the Holy Father hinting at with this catchy title?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that “creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works” (§ 198). In creation, God’s presence is supremely proclaimed. The human person needs to understand that s/he herself/himself together with the natural environment s/he is called to steward responsibly, are God’s gifts. The Bible helps humankind understand its incomparable dignity and singular calling of stewarding God’s creation. The psalmist exclaims with wonder: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your hands, the moon and the stars which you have established; what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?” (Ps 8:4-5). In the 2008 message for the World Day of Peace, the present Pontiff highly accentuated the need that humanity restores and reinforces “that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying” (§ 7). How can mankind do this in order to start mending the ecological crisis we are immersed in? In view of this crisis we are living in, it is essential that we make use of the virtue of prudence. In effect, Pope Benedict XVI says that “prudence would thus dictate a profound, long-term review of our model of development, one which would take into consideration the meaning of the economy and its goals with an eye to correcting its malfunctions and misapplications” (§ 5). Prudence is one of “those values which can serve as the solid basis for building a brighter future for all” (§ 5). It offers a splendid “opportunity for discernment and new strategic planning” (§ 5). The latter does not happen in a vacuum. It must be coupled with far-sighted governmental policies which foster a more responsible employment of natural resources. Thus, the Holy Father invites governments to legislate “clearly-defined rules... from the juridical and economic standpoint” which safeguard natural resources and the climate while “taking into due account the solidarity... to those living in the poorer areas of our world and to future generations” (§ 7).

Caring for the coming generations is crucial towards a more just sharing of the world’s natural resources. For Benedict XVI, “a greater sense of intergenerational solidarity is urgently needed” (§ 8), particularly in the relationships between developing and highly industrialised countries. On their part, highly industrialised countries are “to acknowledge that among the causes of the present ecological crisis is the[ir] historical responsibility” whereas the developing countries have the duty “of gradually adopting effective environmental measures and policies” (§ 8). Since the protection of creation is incumbent on both of them, the Pope says that it is important that “self-interest play[s] a lesser role in the granting of aid and the sharing of knowledge and cleaner technologies” (§ 8).

With regard to the problem of energy resources together with the advancement of common and sustainable energies to answer the energy needs for the present and future generations, Benedict XVI suggests that “technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles, while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency” (§ 9). On the other hand, “there is a need to encourage research into, and utilisation of, forms of energy with lower impact on the environment and a world-wide redistribution of energy resources, so that countries lacking those resources can have access to them” (§ 9). The current ecological crisis provides a golden opportunity to pool forces to adopt “a model of development based on the centrality of the human person, on the promotion and sharing of the common good, on responsibility, on a realisation of our need for a changed life-style, and on prudence, the virtue which tells us what needs to be done today in view of what might happen tomorrow” (§ 9).

Our world craves for a “global solidarity” so that creation is protected. This solidarity is shown when “human intelligence [is] directed to technological and scientific research and its practical applications” (§ 10) such as in the question of solar energy; the problem of water; rural development; and the implementation of suitable policies regarding forests’ management, waste disposal and reinforcing the connection between combating climate change and eradicating poverty. The basic values that should underpin a worldwide solidarity are “the values of charity, justice and the common good” (§ 10). It is the task of education to inculcate these key attitudes in individuals, families, communities and states. This is so since, according to the principle of subsidiarity, “everyone [is] to be committed at his or her proper level, working to overcome the prevalence of particular interests” (§ 11). Various groups in civil society, non-governmental organisations, the media, and the disarmament of nuclear weapons can help a great deal in creating a global conscience that leads us “to move beyond approaches based on selfish nationalistic interests towards a vision constantly open to the needs of all peoples” (§ 11).

This year’s Papal message for the World Day for Peace gives ample evidence of how “the church has a responsibility towards creation” (§ 12), understood not merely in terms of protecting earth, water and air, but most of all “to save mankind from the danger of self-destruction” (§ 12). What this entails from the Church is to continue being faithful to her God- given vocation, that of enlightening the human person to rediscover her/his role as “a steward and administrator with responsibility over creation” (§ 13) with the prudent assistance of technology and human power. In this way, if creation is protected, world peace is automatically safeguarded too. This is precisely on what peace ultimately depends.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap

San Gwann