The intrinsic balance of creation

It is now 30 years since Pope John Paul II, on November 29, 1979, proclaimed St Francis of Assisi as the heavenly patron of those who promote ecology.

St Francis offers an example of genuine and deep respect for the integrity of creation. As a friend of the poor who was loved by God's creatures, St Francis invited all of creation - animals, plants, natural forces, even Brother Sun and Sister Moon - to give honour and praise to the Lord.

Over the past 30 years, many were the occasions when the Catholic Church raised its voice to remind people of the need to respect the entirety of creation. In his latest encyclical, Caritas In Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI stated that development is also closely related to the duties arising from our relationship to the natural environment.

The Pope stressed, and rightly so, that the environment is God's gift to everyone and in our use of it we have a responsibility towards the poor, towards future generations and towards humanity as a whole.

"When nature, including the human being, is viewed as the result of mere chance or evolutionary determinism, our sense of responsibility wanes. "In nature, the believer recognises the wonderful result of God's creative activity, which we may use responsibly to satisfy our legitimate needs, material or otherwise, while respecting the intrinsic balance of creation.

"If this vision is lost, we end up either considering nature an untouchable taboo or, on the contrary, abusing it. Neither attitude is consonant with the Christian vision of nature as the fruit of God's creation."

We are living in a world where an atmospheric pollution exists that poisons the environment and living beings, making it increasingly urgent to ensure that not only we do not become inured to the poisons in the air but to ensure that ecological commitment is and remains a priority.

Consequently, it is heartening to note the Church's always increasing attention to environmental issues not only through her teaching but also through practical initiatives.

One fine example was the Holy See's pavilion at Expo Zaragoza 2008, an international exposition that focused on the theme Water And Sustainable Development.

The international expo was sponsored by the Archdiocese of Zaragoza and the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace. It included a display by the Holy See that focused on the "significance and primordial importance water has for human life".

By participating in the exposition, the Holy See wished to demonstrate not only the urgent need constantly to defend the environment and the natural world but also to discover its more profound spiritual and religious dimension.

Addressing a group of sponsors of the Holy See's Pavilion at Expo Zaragoza, Pope Benedict XVI shared with them a reflection on man's responsibility for protecting Creation: "The truth is that when God, through creation, gave man the keys to the earth, He wanted him to use this great gift responsibly and respectfully, making it fruitful...

In this context, it is important to reiterate the close relationship between protection of the environment and respect for the ethical requirements of human nature, because when human ecology is respected within society, environmental ecology also benefits."

On a local level, as a direct result of the Diocesan Synod (1999-2003), the Archdiocese of Malta established an Environment Commission, which has recently developed into an inter-diocesan commission for Malta and Gozo, with a new statute. The commission strives to help the Church in Malta reflect, in the light of its pastoral responsibilities, on matters related to the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable styles of life.

It also embarks on initiatives in line with its brief and offers suggestions to individuals or Church groups seeking a better commitment in the implementation of sound environment-friendly projects.

On a number of occasions, the commission also offers its well-studied and valid reflections on priority environmental issues to society as a whole.

This is all in the spirit of the genuine love St Francis inspires in all of us, through his witness, towards all of creation.

The striking message St Francis continues to offer us is that when humans are at peace with God they are better able to devote themselves to building up that peace with all creation, which is inseparable from peace among all peoples.

The inspiration of the poor man of Assisi should help to keep ever alive a sense of "fraternity" with all those good and beautiful things the Almighty has created and a constant reminder of our serious obligation to respect and watch over them with care.