World Day of Prayer for Creation

Friday, Sep. 04, 2020

VATICAN CITY (CNS) —  Pope Francis encouraged global initiatives for the protection of the environment, especially in Mauritius after a devastating oil spill threatened the livelihood of the island nation’s inhabitants and wildlife. The pope specifically mentioned a concert that was held at the cathedral in the Mauritian capital of Port-Louis. According to French news agency AFP, the cathedral square was the gathering point Aug. 29 for one of the biggest demonstrations in Mauritius’ history; an estimated 75,000 protesters demanded answers from the government regarding the environmental disaster. In late July, a Japanese bulk carrier, MV Wakashio, ran aground on a coral reef off Pointe d’Esny, unloading over 1,100 tons of fuel into the island’s pristine waters. The ship flew a Panamanian flag, which allows it to avoid marine regulations imposed by Japan. 

After praying the Angelus prayer with pilgrims Aug. 30, the pope also reminded the pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square that Sept. 1 was the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

“From this date, until Oct. 4, we will celebrate with our Christian brothers and sisters from various churches and traditions the ‘Jubilee of the Earth,’ to commemorate the establishment, 50 years ago, of Earth Day,” he said.

In a statement published Aug. 31 in anticipation of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Caritas Internationalis said the global pandemic revealed the interconnectedness of human beings and served as a call “to respect our common home.”

“We realized how unjust systems created the environment for the spread of diseases, how fragile our lives are and how vulnerable we were before the virus,” the statement said. “The pandemic also became an opportunity for us to joins hands to defend lives and ensure that we do not fall victims of the virus. It is also an opportunity for a new form of solidarity to emerge.”