Earth is ‘sick,’ in need of prayers and action, pope says September 1, 2024By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Earth is ailing, and it needs the prayers of Catholics as well as their personal commitment to caring for creation, Pope Francis said. The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network illustrates Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of September 2024. (CNS photo/courtesy Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network) “Let us pray that each of us listen with our hearts to the cry of the Earth and of the victims of environmental disasters and climate change, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit,” the pope said in a video message released Aug. 30 by the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network. The network posts a short video of the pope offering his specific prayer intention each month, and members of the network pray for that intention each day. Pope Francis’ intention for September is: “For the cry of the Earth,” which coincides with the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation Sept. 1 and its inauguration of the monthlong “Season of Creation.” “If we took the planet’s temperature, it would tell us that the Earth has a fever,” the pope said in the video. “And it is sick, just like anyone who’s sick. But are we listening to this pain? Do we hear the pain of the millions of victims of environmental catastrophes?” The first victims and those who suffer most, he said, are “the poor, those who are forced to leave their homes because of floods, heat waves or drought.” To fight poverty and protect nature at the same time, people must change their personal habits, the pope said; but because climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity are “caused by humans,” social, economic and political responses also are necessary. Read More Environment Cardinal Czerny inaugural recipient of Pope Leo XIV Sustainability Medal Vatican theological commission defines ‘sin against creation and the Creator’ in new document Pope Leo says, ‘It is not yet too late’ to care for creation Catholics nurture environment in gardens, yards and beyond Why is St. Francis of Assisi patron of the environment? She sings – and plants make the music Copyright © 2024 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Print
