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The ideology of individualism has a great impact on our approach to questions of ecology and the environment the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told the bishops attending the assembly of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania (FCBCO).
“This ideology whose origins can be traced back to the Age of Enlightenment,” he explained, “encourages separation from one another and from the community and brings us towards other means of individual and independent living.”
Drawing on the encyclical Laudato Si’, Parolin pointed to the connectedness of the entire worldwide human family.
He said that, while it may be obvious on one level that we all share a common home if this truth is accepted, there are ethical implications for everyone.
Parolin asked for a deep-seated conversion of attitudes towards God’s gift of creation.
He said while politicians and policymakers have a special responsibility, everyone needs to practise responsible and modest living.
He asked those present to do all that is possible to overturn the globalisation of indifference.
In today’s world, he said, we cannot set up frontiers to hide from global responsibility.
The cardinal said he had wanted to come to Papua New Guinea because of growing concerns about a nuclear and weapons-free world which come with the responsibility to protect and improve people’s lives across the globe.
Despite the rain, over 300 religious and lay people, accompanied by Church leaders, gave the cardinal a colourful ceremonial welcome at Port Moresby’s Jackson International Airport.
Gifts of betel-nut and a live chicken were presented to him by Papuan dancers.
“I come as Secretary of State of His Holiness Pope Francis and I know that your welcome is also a sign of your affection for him,” said Parolin.
“The Holy Father asked me to assure you of his closeness and his prayers for your country. Let us hope we can share in these days a good experience of the love of God,” he said.
The 4-yearly assembly is taking place in Port Moresby from 11 to 18 April.
More than 80 bishops from the Pacific Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, Australia and New Zealand are attending the meeting.
Source
- heraldmalaysia.com
- vaticannews.va
- mediablog.catholic.org.au
- Supplied: Fr Ambrose Pereira SDB
- Image: vaticannews.va
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