Apr 29, 2015 | Senza categoria
«There is much talk here about the building of a common European home. We are convinced, however, that although this endeavour is very necessary, it will not be complete unless we think of it as a part of that “global village” that is now the Earth on which we live. This idea came to me also from the concern expressed in your letter about the precarious condition of our natural environment. (…) In fact, there are increasingly alarming analyses from scientists, politicians and international commissions about our ecosystem. People everywhere are launching proposals in an effort to heal our ailing world. (…) In the final analysis, ecology represents a challenge which can be met only by changing mentalities and forming consciences. It has already been demonstrated by very competent scientific studies that neither technical nor economic resources are lacking for the improvement of our environment. Instead, what is lacking is that spiritual supplement, that new love for the human person, which makes all of us feel responsible towards all the others in a common effort to manage the resources of the earth in an intelligent, just and balanced manner.(…) This question of a just distribution of goods in the world, of helping the poorer populations, of the solidarity of the north towards the south, of the rich towards the poor, is the other side of the ecological crisis. If the immense economic resources destined to boost the war industry and a super-production that requires more and more super-consumption, not to mention the waste of goods in the wealthy countries, if these enormous resources would serve, at least in part, to help the developing countries find their dignified way towards development, how much more breathable the atmosphere would be, how many forests would be spared, how many zones would not become desert wastelands, and how many human lives would be saved! (…) And yet, without a new awareness of universal solidarity, we will never take a step forward. (…) If human beings are not at peace with God, the earth itself is not at peace. Religious people are aware of the earth’s “suffering” when human beings do not use it according to the plan of God, but only for selfishness, for an insatiable desire to possess. This selfishness and desire contaminate the environment more and before any other kind of pollution, which is nothing other than its consequence. (…) Now the disastrous consequences force us to look at reality all together, in the perspective of a united world. If we don’t face this problem all together it will not be resolved. (…) If one discovers that all creation is a gift of a Father who loves us, it will be much easier to find a harmonious relationship with nature. And if one discovers also that this gift is for all members of the human family and not only for a few, more attention and respect will be given for something that belongs to the whole of humanity, present and future». Continue Reading
Apr 29, 2015 | Non categorizzato
No anticipating the encyclical of Pope Francis on the Creation, but great expectation for the document that will be published at the beginning of June. “The world waits to hear his teaching and what he will say in the encyclical and in his speech before the United Nations Assembly on September 25, 2015,” said Jeffrey Sachs, director of the UN agency for sustainable development (UN Sustainable Development Solutions Networks). He is also one of the promoters of the summit, along with the Pontifical Academy of the Sciences and the Religions for Peace, which has Maria Voce as one of its co-presidents. Also in attendance: were General Secretary of the United Nations Ban Ki-Moon, president of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, and president of the Republic of Equador Rafael Vicente Correa.
The conference brings together scientists, environmentalists, Nobel laureates, political and religious leaders to further the discussion on climate change and sustainable development in view of the encyclical on Creation. The day focused on the moral dimensions of the commitment to sustainable development. This is why the involvement of a wide diversity of religious communities seemed quite an encouraging novelty. For Maria Voce, what emerges from this summit is a “new awareness that, in order to obtain something positive, we must come together, because no one, by himself, has the recipe for getting out of these quite dramatic situations.
It reveals that the human race has within itself the ability to get out of the crisis, but it can be done if there is a synergy of all the components. What is emerging is the need for listening to each other, and acting together.”
Cardinal Turkson, president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace proposed that the answers should not be merely technical, but should be based on the moral dimension and oriented towards the well-being of humankind. Technological, scientific and economic progress has introduced lifestyles that were unimaginable to our predecessors, but it also has “some dark sides and unacceptable costs.” “While global society is defined on the values of consumption and economic factors, the rich of today have grown numb in front of the cry of the poor.” “Out of the 7 billion people living the world, 3 billion are living in conditions of poverty, as an elite consumes the greatest portion of the resources.” The discussion ended on the topic of food, which will be at the centre of the Universal Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy. Turkson strongly denounced the exploitation of workers, the trafficking of human beings and the modern forms of slavery. Pope Francis deplores this “throw-away culture,” the Cardinal recalled, in the “globalisation of indifference.” “The Church is not an expert in science, technology or economy, but it is an expert in humanity. To win the challenge of sustainable development “the same conversion, personal transformation and renewal are needed that were invoked fifty years ago by Paul VI and encouraged by Pope Francis today.
“One concrete possibility is offered by a project inspired by the Eco One Project,” Maria Voce remarked during an interview. “It’s the Earth Cube. Its six sides have catchy phrases that can get us involved in supporting a healthy and sustainable planet: ‘Smile on the world!’ ‘Discover the beauty!’ It also teaches sobriety, taking only what you need as the trees do. It suggest daily actions, concrete gestures: ‘Don’t waste water.’ ‘Recycle!’ The last side says: “Now is the time!” Don’t wait until tommorrow. Simple projects such as these can help us to do what the Pope is inviting us to do.”
Apr 29, 2015 | Non categorizzato, Word of
With the tenderness of mercy our love can give witness to the reality of God’s love. We experience what we share with others. When the Lord God appeared to Moses on Mount Sinai he declared his identity as: ‘The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness’ (Ex 34:6). To indicate the nature of this merciful love, the Hebrew Bible uses a word (raḥămîm) that recalls a mother’s womb, the place where life begins. By making himself known as ‘merciful’, God shows that for each thing he has made he is concerned as a mother is for her child. He cares, is near, protects, looks after his creature. The Bible uses a further term (ḥesed) to express other aspects of this love which is mercy: faithfulness, benevolence, goodness, solidarity. Mary in her Magnificat too sings of the Almighty’s mercy that is from generation to generation (see Lk 1:50). Jesus himself spoke to us of God’s love, revealing him as a ‘Father’ close and attentive to our every necessity, keen to pardon, to give all we need: ‘he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous’ (Mt 5:45). His love is truly ‘rich’ and ‘great’, as is said in the letter to the Ephesians that give us our Word of Life: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.’ What Paul says here is almost a cry of joy born of the contemplation of the extraordinary thing God has done for us. We were dead and he revived us, giving us a new life. The words begin with ‘but’, indicating a contrast with what Paul pointed out earlier. This was the tragic condition of humanity crushed beneath its wrongdoing and sins, prisoner of selfish and wicked desires, under the influence of the powers of evil, in open rebellion against God. In this situation it would have deserved God’s wrath (see Eph 2:1-3). In contrast God, instead of punishing – hence Paul’s utter amazement – gives humanity life again. God does not let himself be governed by wrath, but by mercy and by love. Jesus had already suggested that God acts like this when he told the parable of the Prodigal Son, the younger brother who was welcomed back by his father with open arms after he had sunk into an inhuman life. It was the same with the parable of the Good Shepherd who goes in search for the lost sheep and puts it on his shoulders to bring it back home. And the same can be seen in the Good Samaritan who cares for the wounds of the man who had fallen into the hands of robbers (see Lk 15:11-32; 3-7; 10:30-37). God, a merciful father, symbolized in the parables, has not only forgiven us, but he has given us life itself in his son Jesus, that is, given us the fullness of divine life. And this leads to a hymn of gratitude: ‘But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.’ This Word of Life ought to make us feel the same joy and gratitude as Paul and the first Christian community. To each one of us, too, God shows himself ‘rich in mercy’ and of ‘great love’, ready to forgive and grant trust again. There is no situation of sin, of suffering, of solitude, where he does not make himself present, does not come alongside us to go with us on our way, does not grant us trust, the possibility of rising up and the strength to start again. At his first ‘Angelus’, on 17 March two years ago, Pope Francis started speaking about the mercy of God, a theme that has become characteristic for him. At that time he said, ‘God’s face is the face of a merciful father who is always patient… he understands us, he waits for us, he does not tire of forgiving us.’ He ended that first brief greeting with the words, ‘He is the loving Father who always pardons, who has that heart of mercy for us all. And let us too learn to be merciful to everyone.’ This points to a practical way to live the Word of Life. If God for us is rich in mercy and of great love, we too are called to be merciful towards others. If he loves those who are bad, who are his enemies, we too ought to learn how to love those who are not ‘lovable’, even our enemies. Did not Jesus tell us, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy’ (Mt 5:7)? Did he not ask us to be ‘merciful, just as your Father is merciful’ (Lk 6:36)? Paul too invites his communities, chosen and loved by God, to clothe themselves ‘with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience’ (Col 3:12). If we have believed in God’s love, we too can love in our turn with that love which makes us draw close to every situation of pain and need, that forgives all things, that protects, that knows how to look after the other person. Living in this way we will be able to give witness to God’s love and help those we meet discover that also for them God is rich in mercy and of great love. Fabio Ciardi
