VATICAN CITY, Jan 17, 2001 (LSN.ca) – In stark contrast to radical eco-rights extremism equating man and animals, and even plant life, Pope John Paul II in his General Audience today has presented a Christian view of ecological stewardship.
Quoting St. Gregory of Nissa the pope said God made man the “king of the earth” since man was “created in the image of He that governs the universe.” The pope noted that the lordship of man in this regard is not “absolute, but ministerial” since God Himself holds the real lordship over all creation. The pope criticized the wanton destruction of forests and pollution of water and air calling for an “ecological conversion” – being mindful of our stewardship of the earth “for future generations.” He called for a greater striving to make “the assets of the earth available to all and not only to the privileged.”