Patriarch Bartholomew I calls on people to not destroy creation

José Aurelio Paz, HAVANA, Cuba, January 23, 2004

Patriarch Bartholomew I, leader of the world's Greek Orthodox Christians, told Cubans Thursday that humanity Taxi Heathrow Airport must be a responsible steward of the environment and not destroy creation.

In the presence of Cuban President Fidel Castro, scientists and religious leaders, the Patriarch affirmed “humanity is obligated today and in the future, to cultivate and protect the natural world that surrounds it, so that it remains healthy, productive, fruitful and beautiful for future generations.”

Bartholomew I had traveled to Havana to consecrate the first Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Havana and said that environmental care cannot exclude science, because that would mean denying the condition of steward given to God’s creatures in order to populate the earth.

For this reason, he said, we are constantly promoting campaigns so that all people and governments become sensitive to the need to organize the order of the natural life where we live, respecting its capacity to regenerate and preserve itself.

“God’s perfect plan for the earth, life and the waters, has been affected by a constant, chaotic movement after the emission of pollutants,” he said.

With our actions we try to dissuade those who are involved in this contamination, so that they seek ways to alleviate this evil, but this does not exonerate each of us from our own personal responsibility, he added.

Bartholomew I was referring to a series of summits his patriarchy has organized, on the foundation of the theological school of the Holy Trinity, which cooperates with diverse international organizations among which he mentioned the European Union.

It is possible to develop initiatives in favor of the environment in the largest communities in each region, come to local agreements on this material and ensure that they are fulfilled, he said.

If we forget this responsibility, we favor those who deny environmental preservation, he added. 

Humanity must act appropriately in order to recover and restore what was lost, before the responsibility given by the Creator to exercise a good stewardship of his riches, said Bartholomew I.

I am delighted about the awareness about this issue that I found in the Cuban people and its leaders regarding environment care and we hope that this interest continues so that this beautiful island is preserved and appreciated by all and so that, based on its example, the world can interact in an appropriate manner, he concluded. 

He also visited the Turkish Embassy in Cuba and met with the diplomatic corps in Havana. He also held a meeting with the head of the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) Reinerio Arce Valentín and leaders from Cuban Churches.