Pope proposes care for earth as a work of mercy

Pope Francis has proposed adding the care of creation to the traditional list of corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

As a spiritual work of mercy, the Pope said, care for creation requires “a grateful contemplation of God’s world”, while as a corporal work it calls for “simple daily gestures which break with the logic of violence, exploitation and selfishness”.

The Pope reflected on the need for an integral ecology in Christian life in his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1. The message, entitled “Show Mercy to our Common Home”, presented the day of prayer as an occasion for Christians to “reaffirm their personal vocation to be stewards of creation” and to thank God “for the wonderful handiwork which He has entrusted to our care”.