As we remember the Church's last eight years under the direction of Pope Benedict XVI, let us not overlook the Holy Father's consistent plea to safeguard the gift of Creation and to forge sustainable communities in the 21st century. In a segment called "Environmental Legacy of Pope Benedict XVI," this week's email update from the
Catholic Climate Covenant highlights this aspect of his papacy:
Since his election to the papacy in 2005, Pope Benedict XVI has become known as the “Green Pope” for his prophetic words and actions urging all people, especially Christians, to recall their duties toward Creation. In his writings and addresses, the Holy Father reaffirms many traditional ecological teachings of the Church, including the giftedness of creation, the vocation of stewardship and the universal destination of created goods. In addition, Pope Benedict XVI has offered profound insights on the environment in view of contemporary challenges in the modern world: the need for an international climate treaty, advocacy for renewable energy technologies, and attention to environmental refugees.