Skip to Main Content
THE ENVIRONMENT, A COLLECTIVE GOOD
- 466.
- “Care for the environment represents a challenge for all of humanity. It is a matter of a common and universal duty, that of respecting a common good.”
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 40: AAS 83 (1991), 843.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 34: AAS 80 (1988), 559.
- John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in America, 25: AAS 91 (1999), 760.
- John Paul II, Homily in Val Visdende (Italy) for the votive feast of St. John Gualberto (12 July 1987): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, X, 3 (1987), 67.
- 467.
- “Responsibility for the environment, the common heritage of mankind, extends not only to present needs but also to those of the future.”
- 468.
- “Responsibility for the environment should also find adequate expression on a juridical level.”
- John Paul II, Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 9: AAS 82 (1990), 152.
- John Paul II, Address to the European Commission and Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg (8 October 1988), 5: AAS 81 (1989), 685.
- John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of Peace, 10: AAS 91 (1999), 384-385.
- 469.
- “The authorities called to make decisions concerning health and environmental risks sometimes find themselves facing a situation in which available scientific data are contradictory or quantitatively scarce. It may then be appropriate to base evaluations on the ‘precautionary principle,’ which does not mean applying rules but certain guidelines aimed at managing the situation of uncertainty.”
- 470.
- “Programs of economic development must carefully consider ‘the need to respect the integrity and the cycles of nature’ because natural resources are limited and some are not renewable.”
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 26: AAS 80 (1988), 546.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis,34: AAS 80 (1988), 559-560.
- John Paul II, Address to the Twenty-Fifth General Conference of FAO (16 November 1989), 8: AAS 82 (1990), 673.
- John Paul II, Address to a study group of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (6 November 1987): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, X, 3 (1987), 1018-1020.
- “An economy respectful of the environment will not have the maximization of profits as its only objective, because environmental protection cannot be assured solely on the basis of financial calculations of costs and benefits.”
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 40: AAS 83 (1991), 843.
- John Paul II, Address to the participants at the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (28 October 1994): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, XVII, 2 (1994), 567-568.
- John Paul II, Address to the participants at a Symposium on physics (18 December 1992): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, V, 3 (1982), 1631-1634.
- 471.
- “The relationship of indigenous peoples to their lands and resources deserves particular attention, since it is a fundamental expression of their identity.”
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon, Manaus (10 July 1980): AAS 72 (1980), 960-961.
- John Paul II, Homily at the Liturgy of the Word with the Indigenous Peoples of the Peruvian Amazon Valley (5 February 1985), 4: AAS 77 (1985), 897- 898.
- Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Towards a Better Distribution of Land. The Challenge of Agrarian Reform (23 November 1997), 11, Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City 1997, p. 17.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Australia (29 November 1986), 4: AAS 79 (1987), 974-975.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala (7 March 1983), 4: AAS 75 (1983), 742-743.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Canada (18 September 1984), 7-8: AAS 77 (1988), 421-422.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Ecuador (31 January 1985), II,1: AAS 77 (1985), 861.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Australia (29 November 1986), 10: AAS 79 (1987), 976-977.
- John Paul II, Address to the Indigenous Peoples of Australia (29 November 1986), 4: AAS 79 (1987), 974-975.
- John Paul II, Address to Native Americans (14 September 1987), 4: L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 21 September 1987, p. 21.
THE USE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
- 472.
- “In recent years pressing questions have been raised with regard to the use of new forms of biotechnology in the areas of agriculture, animal farming, medicine and environmental protection. The new possibilities offered by current biological and biogenetic techniques are a source of hope and enthusiasm on the one hand and of alarm and hostility on the other.”
- 473.
- “The Christian vision of creation makes a positive judgment on the acceptability of human intervention in nature, which also includes other living beings, and at the same time makes a strong appeal for responsibility.”
- “The acceptability of the use of biological and biogenetic techniques is only one part of the ethical problem.”
- 474.
- “Modern biotechnologies have powerful social, economic and political impact locally, nationally and internationally. They need to be evaluated according to the ethical criteria that must always guide human activities and relations in the social, economic and political spheres.”
- 475.
- “In a spirit of international solidarity, various measures can be taken in relation to the use of new biotechnologies.”
- 476.
- “Solidarity also means appealing to the responsibility of developing countries, and in particular of their political leaders, for promoting trade policies that are favorable to their peoples and the exchange of technology that can improve the conditions of their food supply and health.”
- 477.
- “Scientists and technicians involved in the field of biotechnology are called to work intelligently and with perseverance in seeking the best solutions to the serious and urgent problems of food supply and health care.”
- 478.
- “Entrepreneurs and directors of public agencies involved in the research, production and selling of products derived from new biotechnologies must take into account not only legitimate profit but also the common good.”
- 479.
- “Politicians, legislators and public administrators are responsible for evaluating the potential benefits and possible risks connected with the use of biotechnologies.”
- 480.
- “Leaders in the information sector also have an important task, which must be undertaken with prudence and objectivity.”
THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE SHARING OF GOODS
- 481.
- “As regards the ecological question, the social doctrine of the Church reminds us that the goods of the earth were created by God to be used wisely by all. They must be shared equitably, in accordance with justice and charity.”
- 482.
- “The environmental crisis and poverty are connected by a complex and dramatic set of causes that can be resolved by the principle of the universal destination of goods, which offers a fundamental moral and cultural orientation.”
- 483.
- “The close link that exists between the development of the poorest countries, demographic changes and a sustainable use of the environment must not become a pretext for political and economic choices that are at variance with the dignity of the human person.”
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 25: AAS 80 (1988), 543.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Evangelium Vitae, 16: AAS 87 (1995), 418.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 25: AAS 80 (1988), 543-544.
- John Paul II, Message to Nafis Sadik, Secretary General of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (18 March 1994), 3: AAS 87 (1995), 191.
- 484.
- “The principle of the universal destination of goods also applies naturally to water, considered in the Sacred Scriptures as a symbol of purification and of life.”
- Psalms 51:4
- John 13:8
- John 3:5
- Galatians 3:27
- John Paul II, Message to Cardinal Geraldo Majella Agnelo on the occasion of the 2004 Brotherhood Campaign of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference (19 January 2004): L'Osservatore Romano, English edition, 17 March 2004, p. 3.
- 485.
- “By its very nature water cannot be treated as just another commodity among many, and it must be used rationally and in solidarity with others.”
NEW LIFESTYLES
- 486.
- “Serious ecological problems call for an effective change of mentality leading to the adoption of new lifestyles.”
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 36: AAS 83 (1991), 838-840.
- John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Centesimus Annus, 36: AAS 83 (1991), 839.
- John Paul II, Address to the UN Center, Nairobi, Kenya (18 August 1985), 5: AAS 78 (1986), 92.
- 487.
- “The attitude that must characterize the way man acts in relation to creation is essentially one of gratitude and appreciation; the world, in fact, reveals the mystery of God who created and sustains it.”
Search the Library to locate books, e-books, videos, articles, journals...
Other Search Options
