Tagle leads World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation

FILE: Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. (Photo: Archdiocese of Manila – Office of Communications/Facebook)

MANILA — Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle reminded the public to protect the environment as he led the celebration of the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation here Friday morning.

“Care for creation is care for life,” the head of the Archdiocese of Manila told the thousands who gathered at Burnham Green, Luneta Park as he officiated a Mass to mark the month-long celebration of the Season of Creation from September 1 to October 4.

“It is high time for us to really work together, especially us Filipinos, who have witnessed widespread destruction of lives, lands, and infrastructure because of the harmful effects of climate change. Among these are typhoons, extreme weather, and earthquakes,” he added.

Tagle also reminded everyone about the message of Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato Si that nature is not apart from humanity.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) president, Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, likewise asked the people to make conscious efforts to protect the environment as these are related to alleviating the sufferings of the poor.

“Let us take care of the earth not only because it would benefit our environment but also us. What we do to our environment, we do to our least brothers and sisters, and to God. Let us protect God’s creation, and His creation will likewise protect us,” Villegas said.

The activity was organized by the Catholic Church through the Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM) with its convenor-members — the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA)/Caritas Philippines, Association of Major Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AMRSP), and Radio Veritas, among others.

Present during the activity were CBCP Episcopal Commission on the Laity chairman Bishop Broderick Pabillo; CBCP Episcopal Commission on Youth Bishop Leopoldo Jaucian; Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Antonio Ledesma; NASSA/Caritas Philippines executive secretary Fr. Edwin Gariguez; GCCM convenor Fr. John Leydon; and AMRSP head Sr. Cresencia Lucero.

Other activities include workshops and seminars by the Archdiocese of Manila Ecology Ministry at the Plaza Roma, Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila.

The mobilization is a celebration of a global prayer movement for the care of the environment set by Pope Francis every September 1.