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Dear young friends,

I am writing to you today to talk about something incredibly important: our shared responsibility to protect the environment. As young people, you are the “now” of the world, and the future of our planet rests in your hands. The Catholic Church teaches us that caring for creation is not just an option, but a fundamental part of our faith. This message aims to guide you on this journey, providing an understanding of a Catholic perspective of on environmental stewardship and inspiring you to act.

The foundation of our environmental responsibility lies in the understanding that the world around us is a gift from God, our caring and loving Father. The created world, intelligently structured by God, is entrusted to our responsibility [Pope Benedict XVI, Safeguarding of Creation, 26 August 2009]. The Book of Genesis tells us that God created humankind in His image, giving us dominion over creation [Genesis 1: 26]. However, this dominion is not a license to exploit. We are not the absolute masters of creation. Instead, we are called to be stewards, carefully tending to God’s creation with love and respect.

Environmental issues are not just scientific or political; they are deeply moral. The Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] recognises that care for the environment is part of care for the common good, a shared responsibility of the human race. As such, we need to cultivate a “religious respect for the integrity of creation” [CCC, 2415]. The degradation of the environment disproportionately affects the poor and vulnerable, who often suffer the most from pollution, natural disasters, and displacement.

Our Caritas-Partners’ Meeting, held last year in Bangkok, was an opportunity for us to hear directly from those affected by these issues.

The foundation of our environmental responsibility lies in the understanding that the world around us is a gift from God, our caring and loving Father. The created world, intelligently structured by God, is entrusted to our responsibility

It’s real! Pope Francis speaks of an “ecological debt” [Laudato Si (LS), 51] owed by wealthier nations to developing nations, highlighting the injustice of environmental degradation. This injustice can often force the poor “to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children” [LS, 25]. They are the climate migrants, a reality that is increasingly present today. Our actions should be motivated by the right and just desire of leaving a much healthier and worth living environment to those coming after us. This selfless spirit is in itself a message of love.

So, what can you (or can we) do? How can you live out this call to protect our common home? Here are some practical steps you can take as the “now” of this present age:

Reduce consumption: Be mindful of your consumption habits. Buy less stuff, choose sustainable products, and reduce waste.

Conserve resources: Save energy and water at home. Turn off lights, take shorter showers, and recycle.

Advocate for change: Speak out about climate change to your peers and families, and educate others about environmental issues. Support policies and initiatives that protect the environment.

Get involved in your community: Join local environmental groups, participate in clean-up efforts, and be on the side of those who take meaningful steps for change.

Embrace simplicity: Strive for a simpler lifestyle, focusing on what truly matters.

Pope Francis speaks of an ‘ecological debt’ [Laudato Si (LS), 51] owed by wealthier nations to developing nations, highlighting the injustice of environmental degradation. This injustice can often force the poor ‘to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children’ [LS, 25]

We should aim for “a new lifestyle”, one that strives to live simply to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. A solution at the economic and technological level can be found only if we undergo, in the sincerest way, an inner change of heart, which can lead to a change in lifestyle and of unsustainable patterns of consumption and production [Pope St. John Paul II, Speech, 10 June 2002].

Ultimately, protecting the environment requires more than just changing our habits; it requires a transformation of heart. Pope Francis calls this an “ecological conversion,” a process by which our encounter with Jesus Christ transforms our relationship with the world around us. Fully embracing this task amounts to what Pope Francis calls an ecological conversion, by which “the effects of [our] encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in [our] relationship with the world around [us]” [LS, 219]. This conversion inspires us to find creative and enthusiastic solutions to environmental problems, offering ourselves to God as a living sacrifice.

My dear young friends, the task before us is great, but so is our potential. By embracing our role as stewards of creation, we can build a more just and sustainable world for all. Let us work together to protect our common home, inspired by the values of our faith and the love of God.

God our Creator, we thank you for the gift of creation. Help us to be good stewards of the earth, protecting its beauty and resources for future generations. Inspire us to live simply, to consume less, and to care for the poor who are most affected by environmental degradation. Open our hearts to an ecological conversion, that we may see the world through your eyes and act with love and compassion. Amen.

Truly yours,

Dominique Mukonda, CICM