Pope: 'Even the fleeting life of the least of beings is the object of God's love'
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis has urged participants at a conference on ecology to promote âa more profound appreciation for the gift of our common home.â
In a message in which he conveyed his âprayerful best wishes to all the participantsâ, the Pope asked them to âcommunicate to the world the beautiful truth that every creature is âthe object of the Fatherâs tenderness, who gives it its place in the worldâ.
Rediscovering the Intrinsic Value of All Creatures
The conference, entitled âRadical Ecological Conversion after Laudato Sìâ and aiming to âRediscover the Intrinsic Value of All Creaturesâ is taking place on 7 and 8 March at the Gregorian Pontifical University.
It provides a forum for priests, religious, scientists and teachers to explore the implications for the Church and Society of the teaching of the papal encyclical âLaudato Sìâ on the intrinsic worth of all creatures, and the need to re-order human society so as to respect them, and the natural order of the Creation.
âEven the fleeting life of the least of beings, the Pope continued in his message, is the object of Godâs love, and in its few seconds of existence, He enfolds it with His affectionâ.
Calling for conversion and renewal during Lent
Francis also pointed out that this message is even more urgent during the season of Lent which highlights the importance of conversion in the renewal of Christian life, and this, he said, includes the responsible stewardship of creation
Ecumenical Patriarch
The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was one of the many Church leaders present at the two-day event organized by the Embassies of Georgia, Germany and the Netherlands to the Holy See.
In his address to conference participants Bartholomew referred to intensified efforts to work alongside Pope Francis and to their joint message of the 1st of September last year in which they declared together that âour obligation to use the earthâs goods responsibly implies the recognition of and respect for all people and living creatures.â
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