Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila will preside over the Philippines’ celebration of the World Day of Prayer for creation this Tuesday, as the Pope leads the celebration in St. Peter’s.
Fides reported that the occasion will coincide with the opening of the «Season of Creation,» a six-week period in which there are initiatives, celebrations and exhibitions on the theme of the environment in parishes, schools and Catholic associations. This year the starting point of reflection and of the activities will be Laudato si’.
Catholics in the Philippines are currently assisting in the collection of signatures for a petition to be presented to the world leaders who will gather in Paris in November to discuss climate change.
The petition asks to keep the global temperature rise below the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius and calls for broader assistance for the poor who face the effects of climate change.
Launched in the Philippines in July, the campaign was initiated and promoted by the «Global Climate Catholic Movement,» which brings together more than 100 Catholic organizations engaged in the world for «climate justice»
The Pope will lead the celebration of first World Day of Prayer for creation in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday at 5 p.m., Rome time. The Holy Father said at Wednesday’s general audience that on Sept. 1 he will lead a celebration with Liturgy of the Word with bishops, priests, consecrated persons and lay faithful of the Roman Curia in St. Peter’s Basilica and he invited Romans, pilgrims, and all those who would like to, to participate.
Pope Francis announced the World Day of Prayer for all creation following the publication of the encyclical Laudato Si’. Pope Francis said “it offers to individual believers and to the community a precious opportunity to renew our personal participation in this vocation as custodians of creation, raising to God our thanks for the marvellous works that He has entrusted to our care, invoking his help for the protection of creation and his mercy for the sins committed against the world in which we live.”
