Cardinal Marx, President of COMECE, welcomes the new Encyclical of Pope Francis as “a strong and timely signal”. For the first time a Pope “has voluntarily decided to impact world politics” stated Cardinal Marx at this morning’s presentation of the Encyclical in Munich. Not by accident has the Pope published his Encyclical before the decisive summits on Development Goals in New-York in September and on Climate Change in Paris in December and called Humanity for action: “Although the post-industrial period may well be remembered as one of the most irresponsible in history, nonetheless there is reason to hope that humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century will be remembered for having generously shouldered its grave responsibilities.” (LS 165)
Humanity at the dawn of the twenty-first century has the duty to change course, stated Cardinal Marx. Pope Francis imposes on himself as well as on the entire Church the duty to act responsibly towards creation. “One who does not love creation cannot be a good Christian”.
Cardinal Marx himself has high hopes in the impact of the Encyclical. This also applies to the concrete political actions, i.e. the ones of the European Union. No other institution has the possibility to express its point of view in a text that will be studied by thousands of people around the world. Pope Francis’ main concern is that our engagement for the environment “cannot under any circumstances be separated” from our commitment to the poor. In fact, the Pope propagates a “new idea of progress” of an ecologically compatible holistic development, “which would actually inspire us”.
Cardinal Marx wishes to contribute to spreading and implementing this message. Furthermore, COMECE will in the coming weeks and months organise specific concrete actions:
On Thursday 25 June 2015 at noon, COMECE will host a Luncheon-Debate with Fr Sean McDonagh, Irish Eco-theologian, missionary priest, best-selling author on Climate change issues
and Philippe Lamberts Belgian Parliamentarian and Co-chair of the Greens/EFA group in the European Parliament.
Before the UN Conference on Climate Change in Paris, the Bishops of COMECE will dedicate their Plenary Assembly to be held on 28-30 October 2015 in Paris to the question of Climate Change.
An evening debate , co-organised with the diocese of Paris, will take place at the College des Bernardins on 29 October 2015.
Full text of the Statement of Cardinal Marx (in German only).
Full text of the Encyclical