杏MAP导航 Francis: Caring for our common home requires conversion
The occasion that gave rise to the idea of 鈥嬧�媠etting up the Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontifice Foundation was the Encyclical "Centesimus Annus" promulgated by Saint John Paul II on 1 May 1991.
This year, the foundation鈥檚 International Conference has chosen to reflect on 杏MAP导航 Francis鈥� Encyclical Letter, Laudato si鈥�.
Greeting conference participants on Saturday, the 杏MAP导航 noted that in the last four years since the document鈥檚 publication there had been signs of an increased awareness of the need to care for 鈥渙ur common home.鈥�
In particular, he mentioned the adoption, by many nations, of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as, 鈥渁 growing investment in renewable and sustainable energy sources; new methods of energy efficiency; and a greater sensitivity, especially among young people, to ecological concerns.鈥�
Challenges
But the Pontiff also pointed to a number of challenges and issues that still remain, such as, improper use of natural resources and attitudes of unbridled individualism, consumption and wastefulness.
鈥淔aced with the enormity of such challenges鈥�, he said, 鈥渋t would be easy to lose heart, giving in to uncertainty and anxiety. Yet, he quoted, 鈥渉uman beings, while capable of the worst, are also capable of rising above themselves, choosing again what is good, and making a new start鈥�.
Renewed ethical vision
The 杏MAP导航 underlined that, 鈥渁dequate responses to current problems cannot be superficial.鈥� Rather, he added, 鈥渨hat is needed is precisely a conversion, a 鈥渢urning around鈥�, that is, a transformation of hearts and minds.鈥�
In order to overcome problems including hunger and food insecurity, and the culture of waste, what was needed was a 鈥渞enewed ethical vision, one that places people at the center, desiring to leave no one on the margins of life.鈥�
It is a vision, he said, 鈥渨hich unites rather than divides, includes rather than excludes.鈥�
The road ahead
杏MAP导航 Francis stressed that the development of an integral ecology, was 鈥渂oth a call and a task".
He continued by saying that, this task was 鈥渢o change 鈥渕odels of global development鈥�, opening a new dialogue on the future of our planet.鈥�
Although this work seems daunting, he said, 鈥淚 encourage you not to lose hope, for that hope is based upon the merciful love of our Father in heaven.鈥�
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