Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for the Vatican, says present day divisions and animosity between creatures and human beings are due to lack of care for the environment resulting in helplessness in the world.
He said this in homily during the opening mass for plenary of the 2022 Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) meeting, a meeting of Catholic bishops from Eastern Africa. The mass was held at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam Tanzania, July 10th.
Cardinal Tagle underscored the importance of the theme of the AMECEA meeting coming a time the world is faced with environmental challenges observing that the problem has resulted in global conflicts, violence and divisiveness.
“Lack of care for the environment is manifesting into lack of care for one another as seen in many conflicts in the world. God wants us to be closer to one another because in Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, God is closer to us. And we should be closer to one another,” he said noting the Dar es Salaam conference of AMECEA bishops, clergy, the religious and laity proclaims the good news that humanity needs to come together.
In making reference to the three readings of the day taken from Deuteronomy 30:10-14, Colossians 1:15-20 and Luke 10:25-37, Cardinal Tagle noted how they all spoke to the closeness of God to creation and humanity. He wondered why humanity should destroy creation if all that was created invisible and visible has the presence of Christ.
Over a hundred Catholic bishops of the AMECEA have gathered for the 20th plenary assembly from countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi,
Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Kenya, and Eretria under the theme: Environmental Impact on Integral Human Development.
The 10-day assembly begun July 9th through July 18th 2022 and shall share more on the care of the earth and Laudato Si, faith, values and ethics in the care for the environment, care for the integral ecology and; Church and government collaborations, among other issues.