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The
day, to be marked by the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics
each year on Sept. 1, is Francis's latest move to try to
highlight global environmental concerns ahead of a pivotal U.N.
summit on climate change in Paris in December.
"As Christians we wish to contribute to resolving the ecological
crisis which humanity is presently experiencing," Francis said
in a letter to two Vatican cardinals whose departments are
involved in issues of justice, peace and Christian unity.
Sept. 1 is also when Orthodox Christians mark their day for the
protection of the environment, giving the gesture added
symbolism in relations between the Eastern and Western branches
of Christianity.
Francis said the day, to be marked with events in every Catholic
diocese around the world, would offer Catholics "a fitting
opportunity to reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards
of creation".
Francis said it would also be a chance to "thank God for the
wonderful handiwork which he has entrusted to our care, and to
implore his help for the protection of creation as well as his
pardon for the sins committed against the world in which we
live".
In June, the pope issued an encyclical on climate change, the
first ever dedicated to the environment. The call to his
church's members could spur the world's Catholics to lobby
policymakers on ecology issues and climate change.
He has said he wants the encyclical and other Church initiatives
to influence the U.N. Paris summit in December, the purpose of
which is to reach a global agreement to combat climate change
after past failures.
Last month, at a Vatican-hosted conference of mayors and
governors from major world cities, Francis urged the United
Nations to take a "very strong stand" on climate change at the
summit.
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Digby Lidstone)
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