杏MAP导航 to Brazilian Catholics: Allow nature to rest from our greedy exploitations
By Vatican News
For 61 years, the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil has launched an initiative called the Campaign for Fraternity, which takes place every year during Lent and focuses on a specific topic. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淔raternity and Integral Ecology.鈥�
This theme, chosen in 2023, promotes a process of 鈥渋ntegral conversion, listening to the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth.鈥�
A decade of climate advocacy
In a message released on Ash Wednesday 鈥� the start of the Lenten season 鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis expresses his closeness to the Brazilian Catholic community and praises the bishops for launching this edition of the Campaign for Fraternity.
He highlights the bishops鈥� invitation for everyone to 鈥渨alk, during Lent, a path of conversion based on the encyclical, Laudato Si鈥�,鈥� published 10 years ago, and its counterpart, the Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum. The 杏MAP导航 explains these documents were meant to emphasize how the current 鈥渆cological crisis is a call to a profound inner conversion鈥� (Laudato Si鈥�, 217).
Recalling the words of 杏MAP导航 John Paul II, he stresses that it was 鈥渘ecessary to stimulate and support the 鈥榚cological conversion,鈥� which made humanity more sensitive鈥� to the mission of caring for the Earth.
Taking action
In Brazil, a country home to the most biologically diverse population of native plant and animal species on Earth, protection of the environment is very important. This fall, the country will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference or COP30 in Belém do Pará, at the heart of the Amazon.
In light of this, 杏MAP导航 Francis points out that the theme of the 2025 Campaign for Fraternity reiterates the Church鈥檚 readiness to foster global cooperation to 鈥渉elp overcome the climate crisis and preserve the marvelous work of Creation.鈥�
The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 message expresses his desire that the Campaign will 鈥渙nce again be a powerful aid to the people and communities of this beloved country鈥� in their 鈥渃oncrete commitment to integral ecology.鈥�
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