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In his message for September 1, which marks the beginning of the new ecclesiastical year and the Day of Prayer for the Protection of the Natural Environment, Bartholomew warned that the ecological crisis reflects not only environmental destruction but also deeper problems in how modern humanity understands freedom, economic development and its relationship with nature.<\/p>\n
The Ecumenical Patriarchate established September 1 as a day of prayer for the natural environment in 1989.<\/p>\n
Ecological Crisis<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Addressing bishops and faithful, Bartholomew described the modern ecological crisis as a crisis of human freedom, philosophy, ethics and civilisation.<\/p>\n He highlighted the Ecumenical Patriarchate\u2019s environmental conferences, inter-Christian and interfaith dialogue, and proposals on environmental issues as part of a broader environmental agenda.<\/p>\n Bartholomew stressed the urgent need for a \u201cCopernican turn\u201d in the way humanity understands progress and approaches nature.<\/p>\n He said the Ecumenical Patriarchate would continue promoting its ecological vision, with particular emphasis on the theological dimension of protecting creation.<\/p>\n Bartholomew also argued that highlighting the religious and ethical dimensions of the environmental threat could increase awareness of humanity\u2019s responsibility towards nature.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, humanity must stop acting as if it did not know and definitively abandon the illusion that planet Earth can forever overcome human-induced burdens and destruction, and that nature has the power to renew itself on its own,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He stressed that responsibility for protecting the natural environment must operate at global, national, local and personal levels.<\/p>\n Criticism of Consumerism<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Bartholomew also criticised a model of development based on the constant accumulation of wealth and consumption, linking environmental destruction to deeper changes in human values and behaviour.<\/p>\n \u201cHumanity is undermining its future and destroying its \u2018home\u2019,\u201d he said, warning that modern humanity\u2019s \u201csins\u201d have created and continue to create divisions between people and nature.<\/p>\n He criticised what he called the modern \u201chuman-god\u201d, accusing it of pursuing \u201cgeocide\u201d while ignoring limits in the name of geopolitical plans, economic interests and consumerism.<\/p>\n Bartholomew also linked environmental destruction to the pursuit of essentially insatiable needs and deeper changes in people\u2019s experiences and values.<\/p>\n A New Ecological Path<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n The Ecumenical Patriarch called on humanity to adopt a new framework of shared values centred on solidarity, collective responsibility and respect for both people and nature.<\/p>\n He concluded his message for the new ecclesiastical year by offering his wishes to the faithful and invoking the grace of Christ and the protection of the Virgin Mary.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n