Pope Francis encourages Brazilian Catholics to embrace the 2023 Campaign for Fraternity, focusing on integral ecology amid ecological crises. He reinforces themes from his encyclical and highlights Brazil’s role in global climate advocacy as it prepares to host COP30, emphasizing the need for collective action and conversion.
The National Conference of Bishops of Brazil has organized the Campaign for Fraternity for 61 years, focusing annually on a specific theme during Lent. This year’s theme, “Fraternity and Integral Ecology,” centers on fostering integral conversion and addressing the needs of both impoverished communities and the Earth.
On Ash Wednesday, Pope Francis reached out to the Brazilian Catholic community, commending the bishops for their leadership in this year’s Campaign for Fraternity. He encourages participation in a conversion journey based on the teachings from his encyclical, “Laudato Si’,” highlighting how the ecological crisis demands a deep inner change.
Emphasizing the importance of environmental stewardship, the Pope remembers Pope John Paul II’s call for ecological awareness, asserting the need for supporting each individual’s ecological conversion to better care for the planet. As Brazil hosts the COP30 Climate Change Conference in Belém do Pará, Pope Francis underscores the significance of protecting its rich biodiversity.
The Pope’s message indicates a commitment to encourage global partnership to address climate change and protect creation. He aims for the 2025 Campaign for Fraternity to significantly assist communities in Brazil in their integral ecology efforts.
Pope Francis’s message to Brazilian Catholics highlights the intersection of faith, environmental stewardship, and the need for societal transformation. By focusing on integral ecology, the 2023 Campaign for Fraternity promotes a deeper awareness of ecological issues and urges collective action to confront the climate crisis, particularly in a biodiversity-rich nation like Brazil.
Original Source: www.vaticannews.va
