In his message for this year’s Season of Creation, Pope Francis emphasizes the need for collective action, saying, “To hope and act with creation means, above all, to join forces and walk together with all people of goodwill.”
However, he also warns that while our technological capabilities have advanced at an astonishing pace, we have become dangerously powerful. He notes, “In just a few decades, our power has increased frenetically. Despite impressive technological achievements, we have become a threat to many forms of life, including our own survival.” Unchecked power, he cautions, creates monsters that eventually turn against us. He underscores the urgency of placing ethical boundaries on artificial intelligence development, as its capacity for calculation and simulation could be used for domination over humanity and nature, rather than being harnessed for peace and integral development.
Here in the Philippines, we witness firsthand the devastating effects of environmental destruction. The suffering of our communities, plagued by relentless coal and mining operations, reclamation projects, oil spills, deep-sea quarrying, and other harmful activities, is a clear sign of creation’s “groaning” under the weight of exploitation, all in the name of economic progress.
As stewards of the Church’s social action and ecology ministries, we must strengthen our commitment to ecological care through strategic, concrete, and impactful initiatives that address these urgent environmental crises.
During the 128th CBCP Plenary Assembly in July 2024, six critical eco-actions were identified: (1) continue establishing and strengthening integral ecology ministries, (2) support the global Feast of Creation celebration alongside other faiths, (3) divest financial resources from extractive industries by 2025, (4) enforce a policy against accepting donations from unethical sources, (5) support efforts to eradicate plastic pollution, and (6) promote the 10 Million Solar Rooftops Challenge to ensure a just transition to renewable energy.
It is our shared responsibility to act on behalf of those most affected by environmental degradation and climate change. This Season of Creation, let us stand bravely against environmental destruction and human rights violations, advocating for justice and the protection of our common home.
Note: This link contains all materials related to the 2024 Season of Creation celebration and other documents relevant to our campaigns: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1I21eiJ_-e4_9tDcSgB6QvlYdkpRXELZo?usp=sharing