The first of 2 webinars on current questions of development, international cooperation and safeguarding of creation organised by the CCEE Pastoral Social Care Commission took place on Wednesday 3 February.
This seminar, that saw the participation of 45 experts and delegates from various Bishops’ Conferences and European ecclesial organisms that work in the social environment, opened with greetings from the President of the Commission, H. E. Mgr Giampaolo Crepaldi, and from H. E. Mgr Angelo Massafra, Head of the Commissions Safeguarding of Creation section.
The first address, entitled “The magisterium of Pope Francis on integral human development and care for creation”, was provided by Mgr. Dario Edoardo Viganò, Vice-Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (Vatican). In his discourse Mgr Viganò underlined that, social doctrine being a consequence of the Church’s own mission, Pope Francis, in his social thinking connects faith in Christ to the Church’s experience of love. “The Church – he affirmed – can only love in the manner of Christ”. Therefore, the Church’s commitment – as repeatedly stated by Pope Francis – does not seek to find all the answers to mankind’s problems, but rather to help find answers and make decisions that are inspired by the Gospel.
The second address, entitled “Environmental challenges posed by certain economic development models”, was presented by Prof. Adrian Civici, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the Mediterranean University of Albania. The approach and consequences of current forms of consumerism were the starting point for the speaker’s reflection, who then insisted on the need for a transition to a circular economy, changing production criteria and focusing on the appropriate use of renewable energies. In this perspective – stated Prof. Civici – a deeper ethical reflection on man’s relations with nature is required.
The seminar was concluded by a reflection and prayer from Card. Angelo Bagnasco, CCEE President, who highlighted the importance of the believers’ engagement in the social sphere and in the protection of creation, not only for ethical reasons but essentially because it is a response to the nature of belief.
The next seminar will take place on Wednesday 10 February.
Attached are the texts of the meeting.
