One significant event when Holy Father visited our country last 2015 was his visit to Tacloban, ground zero of Typhoon Yolanda, which killed at least 6,300 individuals, displaced almost four million and leaving million others homeless. In solidarity, Pope Francis wearing a yellow plastic raincoat likewise shared storm like conditions (brought about by Tropical Storm “Amang”, international name “Mekkhala”) when he led the Eucharistic Celebration amid gusting winds and driving rain at the Tacloban airport to keep his promise to comfort survivors of this 2013 Typhoon. The Holy Father told those in attendance that he had vowed to make the trip in November 2013 when he saw reports of the devastation Yolanda had caused. “I felt that I had to be here … I am here to be with you, perhaps a little late, I have to say, but I am here,” Pope Francis said.

Truly, the Holy Father came face-to-face to what climate change can do to the lives of those caught in its path. Pope Francis was forced to cut the outing short by almost four hours as Tropical Storm “Amang” drew steadily closer to this island in the central Philippines, but he nevertheless managed to deliver the message of solidarity he had come to bring.

Such acts of solidarity vis-à-vis our ongoing environmental woes are not uncommon for the Holy Father. In fact, Pope Francis published his long-awaited encyclical on the environment which he called LAUDATO SI. Latin for “Praised Be,” this was the name of Pope Francis’ encyclical on caring for our common home planet earth. The letter is addressed to “every person living on this planet” and calls for a global dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet through our daily actions and decisions.

Pope Francis, who took his name from the saint (St. Francis of Assisi) seen as the patron of the animals and the environment reminds us of a “profound respect for the whole of creation and the protection of our environment, which all too often, instead of using for the good, we exploit greedily, to one another’s detriment.”

Others would even comment that choice of papal name really set his green agenda. Just after Pope Francis’ election, the Holy Father said he chose Francis of Assisi because “for me, he (St. Francis) is the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and protects creation. These days we do not have a very good relationship with creation, do we?”

At this point, it is still uncertain exactly what Pope Francis will say in his encyclical letter, but we can make an educated guess by evaluating his previous comments on the issue.

When the Holy Father visited us part of his message was to care for the environment. Both in an undelivered speech at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and his homily during the public Mass at the Rizal Park (Luneta), Pope Francis mentioned prominently the importance of caring for Mother Nature.

“You are called to care for creation not only as responsible citizens, but also as followers of Christ!” He described respect for the environment as being more than simply having an eco-friendly mindset. “These are important aspects, but not enough. We need to see, with the eyes of faith, the beauty of God’s saving plan, the link between the natural environment and the dignity of the human person.”

Moreover, in his last homily at the Rizal Park mass, which was attended by roughly 6-7 million people, the Holy Father described the world as a “beautiful garden,” which we are all tasked to protect. “When we destroy our forests, ravage our soil, and pollute our seas, we betray that noble calling,” said our Holy Father, who has previously called the deforestation of a rainforest a “sin.” True to his previous statements about the environment, he reminded us that care for Mother Nature as being deeply connected to caring for fellow human beings.

Another beautiful message on the environment which he was suppose to impart during his encounter with the Youth at UST, challenges young people as such: “Dear young people, the just use and stewardship of the earth’s resources is an urgent task, and you have an important contribution to make. You are the future of the Philippines. Be concerned about what is happening to your beautiful land!” Here the Holy Father admonishes the Filipino youth to think deeply of the cost of wasteful lifestyles and the pillage of the earth’s resources.

As a response to this call of the Holy Father, we must be constantly mindful of its role in overall environmental protection of our natural resources. The Christian view of creation includes a positive judgment about the legitimacy of interventions on nature if these are meant to be beneficial and are performed responsibly, that is to say, by acknowledging the “grammar” inscribed in nature and by wisely using resources for the benefit of all, with respect for the beauty, finality and usefulness of every living being and its place in the ecosystem.

“The human family has received from the Creator a common gift: nature. Nature, in a word, is at our disposition and we are called to exercise a responsible stewardship over it. Yet so often we are driven by greed and by the arrogance of dominion, possession, manipulation and exploitation; we do not preserve nature; nor do we respect it or consider it a gracious gift which we must care for and set at the service of our brothers and sisters, including future generations” (Pope Francis).

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