«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