Our Earth Is Being Ravaged Says Leo XIV

Vatican city: Pope Leo XIV has issued a stern warning concerning the critical state of the environment, highlighting the widespread evidence that “our Earth is being ravaged.” He called for immediate action to tackle the ongoing climate crisis in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 2.

According to Ansa News Agency, the Pope’s message, released by the Vatican on Wednesday, emphasized the rampant injustice and violations of international law that are contributing to environmental degradation. The Pope pointed out that these issues are leading to deforestation, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity. He noted that extreme natural phenomena, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, are becoming more frequent and intense, with devastating medium and long-term effects on both human and ecological systems.

Pope Leo XIV highlighted the disproportionate impact of environmental destruction on marginalized groups, stating that the poor and excluded suffer the most. He cit
ed the plight of indigenous communities as a stark example of this disparity. The Pope also criticized the treatment of nature as a mere commodity, warning that it has become a battleground for resource control, particularly in agricultural areas and forests plagued by landmines and conflicts over water sources.

The Pope called for environmental justice, which he described as an urgent necessity that transcends mere environmental protection. He urged that it must be recognized as a critical issue of social, economic, and human justice. He concluded by urging people of faith to translate their words into action, as the vulnerable populations worldwide continue to bear the brunt of climate change, deforestation, and pollution.