Here is a translation of the text of the Video-Message that Pope Francis sent on the occasion of World Earth Day. In his message, the Holy Father stressed how the pandemic has increased the world’s awareness of the need to take greater care of the earth.
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The Holy Father’s Video-Message
Brothers and Sisters:
On this commemoration of Earth Day, it is always good to remember things that we say to one another so that they do not fall into oblivion. For some time now we have become more aware that nature deserves to be protected, even if it is due to the fact that human interactions with God’s biodiversity [which God has given us] must be done with the greatest care and with respect. We must take care of biodiversity and take care of nature. And we have learned much more during this pandemic. This pandemic has also shown us what happens when the world stops, pauses, even if it’s for a few months. And the impact this has on nature and on climate change, in a way, in a sadly positive way, no? That is, it does harm.
And this demonstrates to us that global nature needs new lives on the planet. It affects all of us, although in multiple, diverse and unequivocal ways. And it is so. It also teaches us more about what we need to do to create a just, equitable, and environmentally safe planet.
In sum, the COVID pandemic has taught us this interdependence, this sharing of the planet. And both global disasters, COVID, and the climate demonstrate that we have no time to wait. Time is pressing upon us and, as COVID-19 has demonstrated, we do have the means to address the challenge. We have the means. It is the moment to act; we are at the limit.
I would like to repeat an old Spanish saying: “God always forgives; men forgive every now and then; nature never forgives.” And when this destruction of nature is triggered, it’s very difficult to stop it, but we still have time. And we will be more resilient when we work together instead of doing so alone. The adversity we are living with the pandemic, and which we already feel in climate change, will give us the impetus that must stimulate innovation, invention, the seeking of new ways. We don’t come out the same way from a crisis; we come out better or worse. This is the challenge, and if we don’t come out better, we are going on a path of self-destruction.
May all of you . . . I also unite myself to you, in an appeal to all leaders of the world, that they may act with courage, with justice, and always tell people the truth, so that people will know how to protect themselves from the planet’s destruction; how to protect the planet from the destruction that we often trigger.
Thank you for what you do; thank you for the good intention; thank you all for coming together and I wish prosperity for all.
© Libreria Editrice Vatican
[Original text: Spanish] [Exaudi’s translation by Virginia M. Forrester]
