Pope Francis: 'Harming The Environment Should Be A Sin'

Environmental destruction is a sin, Pope Francis said in a press conference on Thursday in Rome for the Catholic Church's World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation. He also called it "ecological debt" that humanity has caused and should act against. Despite the awkward relationship between the church and science, they are apparently heading to the same track when it comes to environmental concerns.

IFL Science reported that the pope has joined the debate on climate change and showed great concern for the future of the environment. Currently, it is clear that NASA scientists are not the only ones worried about the issue. According to Pope Francis, humans are "participants in a system that 'has imposed the mentality of profit at any price, with no concern for social exclusion or the destruction of nature'." He added that the poor and refugee crisis victims are the ones suffering the adverse effects of climate change even though they are the least responsible for it.

Moreover, Pope Francis suggested that planet care should be added to the seven "works of mercy" that Christians should perform. This is in line with his support to the Paris Climate Agreement. He likewise gives daily tips on helping the environment.

According to The Guardian, people are likewise called to reflect about the society's apparent lack of concern for the destruction of nature. Consumers are asked to change their lifestyle through tree planting, waste reduction, rubbish separation, and also carpooling. The pope said that "we should not think that our efforts - even our small gestures - don't matter," and that virtue; for instance, ecological virtue, can be infectious.

Meanwhile, according to Cardinal Peter Turkson, president of the Vatican's council for peace and justice, "The first step is to humbly acknowledge the harm we are doing to the Earth through pollution, the scandalous destruction of ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, and the spectre of climate change." He also added that we hurt the poor when we hurt the Earth.

The church and science are currently calling for the same efforts for the environment. Great actions are asked, showing that's it's about time for humans to take environmental issues seriously.