Joint Declaration of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Pope Francis on the Environment

The May 25 meeting between the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Pope involved a declaration by the two leaders that addressed various aspects of problems facing Christians and indeed all human beings throughout the world, including the environment. It included this statement:

It is our profound conviction that the future of the human family depends also on how we safeguard–both prudently and compassionately, with justice and fairness–the gift of creation that our Creator has entrusted to us. Therefore, we acknowledge in repentance the wrongful mistreatment of our planet, which is tantamount to sin before the eyes of God. We reaffirm our responsibility and obligation to foster a sense of humility and moderation so that all may feel the need to respect creation and to safeguard it with care. Together, we pledge our commitment to raising awareness about the stewardship of creation; we appeal to all people of good will to consider ways of living less wastefully and more frugally, manifesting less greed and more generosity for the protection of God’s world and the benefit of His people.

(Text from Special Section of The Orthodox Observer, June 14)