As Christians we are inspired to be good stewards of the earth, to conserve and protect God’s creation and the earth’s resources.
Ever since Pope Paul VI highlighted the damage that was occurring to the natural environment in a letter he published in 1971, the Church has been keen to highlight the importance of our having a harmonious relationship with the natural environment. Though this issue has become more urgent in recent decades in a practical sense, this concern of Christians for the environment has deep theological roots.
As Pope Francis has said, our bodies are made up of the elements of the earth and we breathe and drink the products of the earth. We have an intrinsic relationship with the natural environment, and we should learn to respect and nurture it. But the reasons why we should care for creation go deeper: other creatures, and the natural environment more generally, are created by God. They therefore have a value that we should respect.
We are a people of hope who believe in redemption. We must study the signs of the times and take the action that is needed to repair our relationship with God’s creation. As is made clear in The Call of Creation, the exercise of the virtue of solidarity and the promotion of the common good, which are so needed at this time, are the responsibility of each and every individual and institution in society.
Bishop John Arnold and Bishop Richard Moth
On 4 October 2022, the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecologists and animals, the Social Justice Department of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has launched a new edition of its teaching document on the environment – The Call of Creation. Read more.
The Season of Creation is a global ecumenical celebration of prayer and action to protect our common home, starting each year on 1 September and finishing on the feast of St Francis, 4 October.
Ever since Pope Paul VI highlighted the damage that was occurring to the natural environment in a letter he published in 1971, the Church has been keen to highlight the importance of our having a harmonious relationship with the natural environment.
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales has launched a new edition of its teaching document on the environment - 'The Call of Creation'.
Laudato si' - On the Care for our Common Home - is the Pope's Encyclical Letter on the environment and human ecology.
Laudate Deum is Pope Francis' Exhortation on the global climate crisis. It follows the 2015 Encyclical Laudato Si' where Pope Francis challenges us to be better custodians of our common home.
Global Healing is a film-based resource to help us to respond to the damage being done to our planet – our common home. It's for parishes, groups and individuals and aims to inform, challenge and equip people to engage with Pope Francis’ vital call to Care For Our Common Home.
These case studies provide examples of how parishes, organisations, academic institutions and other church groups are collaborating to help protect our common home.
The 'God Who Speaks' team offers this Novena of readings and prayers as tangible action to respond to the urgent climate change issues we all face.
Pope Francis’ encyclical on care for our common home, Laudato Si’, celebrates its anniversary on 24 May. To mark this, and to reflect on our relationship with the Creator and creation, we celebrate Laudato Si' Week.
Hints and tips to help schools reduce their carbon footprint and become more environmentally friendly.
A list of organisations committed to combating climate change and promoting environmental justice.
