This Thursday, May 25, the Holy See Press Office published Pope Francis’ message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which this year is celebrated on 1 September.
The Holy Father’s message, entitled “May Justice and Peace Flow”, was presented in Rome by Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for the Service of Integral Human Development.
Also with him were Rachel Mash, environmental coordinator for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and a member of the Anglican Communion Environmental Network; Tomás Insua, executive director of the Laudato si’ Movement; and Cecilia Turbitosi, volunteer at the Porto-Santa Rufina Diocesan Missionary Center.
In his message, the Holy Father calls for ” an end to the senseless war against creation ” and urges to transform “the public policies that govern our societies and shape the lives of today’s and tomorrow’s youth.”
Below is the full message from Pope Francis:
Dear brothers and sisters:
“May justice and peace flow” is the theme of this year’s ecumenical Season of Creation, inspired by the words of the prophet Amos: “May justice flow like water, and justice like an inexhaustible torrent” (5, 24).
This expressive image of Amos tells us what God wants. God wants justice to reign, which is essential for our life as children in the image of God, as water is for our physical survival.
This justice must arise where it is needed, not hide too deep or disappear like evaporating water, before it can sustain us. God wants each one to seek to be just in every situation; he always strives to live according to his laws and, therefore, to make it possible for life to flourish fully.
When we seek above all the kingdom of God (cf. Mt 6,33), maintaining a right relationship with God, humanity and nature, then justice and peace can flow, like an inexhaustible stream of pure water, nourishing humanity. humanity and all creatures.
In July 2022, on a beautiful summer day, I meditated on these arguments during my pilgrimage to the shores of Lake Santa Ana, in the province of Alberta, Canada. This lake has been and continues to be a place of pilgrimage for many generations of indigenous people.
As I said on that occasion, accompanied by the sound of the drums: “How many hearts arrived here yearning and weary, weighed down by the burdens of life, and next to these waters found consolation and strength to continue on! Also here, submerged in creation, there is another heartbeat that we can hear, the maternal heartbeat of the earth. And just as the heartbeat of children, from the maternal womb, is in harmony with that of their mothers, in the same way to grow as human beings we need to harmonize the rhythms of life with those of the creation that gives us life.