Caritas Philippines relaunches environmental commitment under Laudato Sì

On the fifth anniversary of the encyclical, the local Church publishes a guide to be distributed to the communities. Inside there are illustrated reflections and directives to fully live the teaching of the pontiff. Bagaforo: the Covid-19 pandemic linked to the destruction of out habitat. Fr. Gariguez: promoting ecological awareness.

Manila (AsiaNews / Cbcp) - In recent days Caritas Philippines has published a guide to be distributed to local communities, with the aim of promoting "practical actions" from an "ecological" point of view in accordance with the directives outlined by Pope Francis in "Laudato sì". Prepared for the fifth anniversary of the encyclical, the volume is a collection of illustrated reflections and guidelines on how to live the spirit of the pontiff's teaching.

Jose Colin Bagaforo, head of Caritas Philippines, stresses that the celebrations promoted by the Church are not only a reminder of the document, but also serve to "articulate the results and challenges". The prelate says people should understand that the spread of infectious diseases, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, are "closely linked to the destruction of the [natural] habitat in our ecosystems".

For the bishop of Kidapawan, in the eastern sector of Cotabato, Catholics must continue to promote initiatives and carry out projects aimed at "protecting our common home". The book aims to help readers examine the personal, leadership and community dimensions by "witnessing the dimension of our environmental concerns".

Edwin Gariguez, executive secretary of Caritas Philippines, adds that the publication will help people "look at themselves" and evaluate "whether we are contributing or not" to solving the problem. The booklet, he continues, is a reminder for communities of "small things we can do" to save the environment and promote "activities that promote ecological awareness".

On May 17, Caritas Philippines launched a one-year program called "Green Initiatives" which aims to ensure food security in communities once the coronavirus emergency ends.