For the first time, Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew send a joint message on the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, held every September 1.
Both urgently appeal to 'those in positions of responsibility' to 'hear the cry of the earth and to attend to the needs of the marginalized, but above all to respond to the plea of millions and support the consensus of the world for the healing of our wounded creation.'
Therefore, they ask global leaders for 'a concerted and collective” response to provide a 'sincere and enduring resolution to the challenge of the ecological crisis and climate change.'
This is because both religious leaders remember that 'the human and natural environment are deteriorating together' and that it is this deterioration that 'falls upon the most vulnerable of its people' since 'the impact of climate change affects, first and foremost, those who live in poverty.'
