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Vatican Messages

The Vatican

World Day of Peace Message 2008

"Prudence does not mean failing to accept responsibilities and postponing decisions; it means being committed to making joint decisions after pondering responsibly the road to be taken, decisions aimed at strengthening that covenant between human beings and the environment, which should mirror the creative love of God, from whom we come and towards whom we are journeying."

"If the protection of the environment involves costs, they should be justly distributed, taking due account of the different levels of development of various countries and the need for solidarity with future generations."
—World Day of Peace Message, Pope Benedict XVI,       December 2007

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“Today, we all see that man can destroy the foundations of his existence, his earth, hence, that we can no longer simply do what we like or what seems useful and promising at the time with this earth of ours, with the reality entrusted to us.”
   —Pope Benedict XVI, July 2007

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“We cannot interfere in one area of the ecosystem without paying due attention both to the consequences of such interference in other areas and to the well-being of future generations.”
   —Pope John Paul II, January 1990

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Other Statements on Science and Climate Change Justice

• Pope Benedict XVI urges international cooperation on climate protection, at United Nations, April 18, 2008
• Background on Pope Benedict XVI’s statements on the environment and climate change, April 8, 2008
• Everyone is responsible for caring for environment, says U.N. nuncio, February 18, 2008
• Vatican's UN Ambassador urges all people and nations to reduce carbon footprint, applauds "Bali Roadmap," February 12, 2008

• Address of Holy See's Abassador to United Nations "Addressing the Leadership Challenge of Climate Change," Setpember 24, 2007

• Address of the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations’ Committee on Sustainable Development, May 10, 2007
• Address of his Holiness Benedict XVI to the members of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, November 6, 2006
• Pope Benedict XVI’s call for respect for the environment during his Angelus address, August 27, 2006
• Letter of his Holiness Benedict XVI on the Occasion of the Sixth Symposium on Religion, Science and the Environment, July 2, 2006
• Intervention by the Holy See at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development of the Economic and Social Council, May 11, 2006
• Intervention by the Holy See at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, September 2, 2002
• Message of Pope John Paul II for the 2000 World Day of Peace, January 1, 2000