"Many people state that the environment is not part of the mission of the Church in the world. They could not be farther from the truth". This was stated by Emmanuel, metropolitan bishop of France and member of the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, who spoke this afternoon at the congress "Values and prospects for the Europe of tomorrow The 50th anniversary of the Treaties of Rome", promoted in the Italian capital by Comece (until 25th March). With reference to the consistent commitment of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the protection of the environment, the metropolitan bishop Emmanuel mentioned that "mankind treats the natural order of Creation as a private property, to be exploited to produce more and more resources. We are called to say ‘enough’". "Climate change he added , one of the greatest challenges that our planet has to face, found a place on the political agenda of the European Commission, and I wish and I pray that we, as European family, may be able to do all we can and work hard to promote the respect of the environment". "We have a duty he concluded to leave a liveable world to our children and to the children of our children".
