As the nations of the world struggled to find agreement and a solution to global warming and the devastation that it is wreaking, I couldn’t help but recall the words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Romans “We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now.” Rom:8:22.

Paul sees creation as struggling for redemption and sharing in the fallen state of humanity and that, with us, “creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.”

Our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI directly addressed the issue in his New Year’s World Day of Peace message when he called for “a cosmic vision of peace,” explaining “respect for creation is of immense consequence,” not least because “creation is the beginning and the foundation of all God’s works”,[1] and its preservation has now become essential for the pacific coexistence of mankind.”

In his message Pope Benedict linked the need for reconciliation among nations to reconciliation with creation and ultimately reconciliation with God, a connection first made in the Genesis creation account. (Gen 3:17-19)

Clearly we are called to stewardship of creation not domination and demolition