Pope Francis has repeated his call for I «the care of our common home, once again launching the appeal for an ecological conversion. »
The Holy Father’s remarks came on February 24, 2020, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, when received the members of the Pro Petri Sede Association gathered in Rome on the occasion of their traditional pilgrimage. The association is active in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg to collects funds for the initiatives of the Pope and the Holy See.
The Pope thanked the group for its efforts to support the missionary activity of the Church. Through their efforts, the members of the group become the «salt and light of the world» and give many in need the «taste of life», he said.
In addition to care for the environment, the Pope stressed the need to protect the dignity of each person no matter their origin or social status.
«Today we are faced with various challenges that concern the human family and its common home,» Pope Francis said. «At the center of our concerns, we bring the cry of anguish of the peoples who suffer, in particular, from wars, the displacement of people, poverty, and degradation of the ecosystem. There is an urgent need to end the exploitation of the poorest! It is urgent that the atrocities in countries prey to the wars and conflicts that push many people on the road to exile must cease!»
