Creation is a gift of God to safeguard and protect, said Cardinal Parolin, lamenting humanity’s egoism in its regard. The Cardinal mentioned the fires that ravage the forests and he made an appeal to pray to “the Lord to free us from this calamity.”
The Vatican Secretary of State talked about environmental issues during a meeting with journalists on Monday, August 28, 2017, at the headquarters of the Grafica Veneta Publishing House at Trebaseleghe, in the region of Padua, Italy. The Cardinal came to present Les Trois Venetie,” Review, dedicated to John Paul II and Benedict XVI at Cadore, reported L’Osservatore Romano in Italian on August 29.
“Unfortunately, man’s egoism infringes” on the “dignity” and “integrity” of Creation, said the Cardinal.
The Secretary of State stressed “the pain caused in our consciences on witnessing the scenes of fires that devastate the forest patrimony and at times also destroy human lives and dwellings.”
He invited people to pray “to the Lord to free us from this calamity and to convert the heart of those that cause such grave damages.”
The Holy See’s “Number 2” reflected also on the problems that characterize the hot season in Italy. “This year’s summer, with its long drought, puts agriculture and water resources in danger, as well as nature in its bio-diversity. Our Dolomites are also exposed to the risk of seeing their complex balance compromised,” he said, referring to the Italian mountains.
Translation by Virginia M. Forrester
