MESSAĠĠ FI TMIEM IL-ĠIMGĦA TAL-LAUDATO SI’2024 MILL-E.T. MONS. ANTON TEUMA, ISQOF TA’ GĦAWDEX…
Għeżież,
Kull sena, f’dawn iż-żminijiet lejn l-aħħar ta’ Mejju, tiġi osservata l-Ġimgħa tal-Laudato Si’, li hija maħsuba biex tfakkarna fl-Ittra Enċiklika li l-Papa Franġisku ppubblika 9 snin ilu bl- istess isem Laudato Si’ “dwar l-għożża tad-dar komuni”, u l-ittri l-oħrajn li bagħtilna warajha.
Il-Papa Franġisku hu minn ta’ quddiem li qed jipprova jikkonvinċi lil kulħadd li d-dinja tinsab fi kriżi serja ħafna, u li t-tibdil fil-klima li qegħdin naraw iseħħ internazzjonalment qed ikollu konsegwenzi serji ħafna, u ser ikompli jwassal għal konsegwenzi dejjem agħar u ta’ tbatija. Dan mhux għas-sistemi naturali biss, iżda anki għall-bniedem. Jekk dan hux jiġri verament jew le, ma baqax dubji, u x-xjenza llum tagħtina provi ċari ħafna li dan huwa l-każ. Hemm min jgħid li qegħdin f’punt li qed isir diffiċli li nreġġgħu lura l-ħsara kollha li laħqet saret lis-sistemi naturali.
Il-Papa Franġisku jindirizza l-messaġġi tiegħu dwar il-qerda tal-ambjent u t-tibdil fil-klima lil kull persuna fid-dinja – lil hinn mid-differenzi ta’ razez, twemmin u distinzjonijiet oħrajn. Imma lilna li aħna Nsara u Kattoliċi jkellimna b’saħħa ikbar u bit-tama li nkunu minn tal-ewwel li nuru impenn u nagħmlu l-parti tagħna biex il-qagħda tad-dar komuni tagħna ma tibqax sejra għall-agħar.
Lilna li aħna msejħa nimxu skont il-prinċipji tal-Vanġelu jfakkarna li dak li qed jiġri fil- kwistjoni ambjentali fid-dinja huwa ta’ interess primarju anki għan-Nisrani fil-fidi tiegħu. Jekk nirriflettu, naslu għall-għarfien li l-ħsara lid-dar komuni tagħna u l-ħela irresponsabbli tar- riżorsi naturali għandhom l-għeruq tagħhom fid-dnub – fost l-oħrajn fir-regħba, is-suppervja, l-individwaliżmu u l-egoiżmu. Huma l-fqar u l-vulnerabbli f’kull soċjetà u fid-dinja kollha li huma milquta l-iktar u l-agħar, kif iseħħ dejjem.
Għall-grazzja ta’ Alla, jeżistu Kattoliċi, anki fi gżiritna, li qed jieħdu t-twissijiet tal-Papa bis- serjetà. B’xorti ħażina, oħrajn mhux biss ma tawx kas ta’ dak li qal il-Papa, imma talli qed jippruvaw iserrħu l-kuxjenza tagħhom billi jgħidu li l-ħarsien tal-ambjent mhux parti mid-dmir tagħhom bħala mgħammdin. Ir-realtà hi li jekk verament irridu ngħixu ta’ Nsara, aħna obbligati li nwettqu f’ħajjitna l-proposti li qed tagħmel il-Knisja f’dan ir-rigward.
Il-Papa, żgur li b’qalb imnikkta, jgħidilna: “Għaddew issa tmien snin mill-pubblikazzjoni tal- Ittra enċiklika Laudato Si’, fejn xtaqt naqsam magħkom kollha, ħuti tal-pjaneta tagħna li qed tbati, it-tħassib qawwi tiegħi għall-għożża tad-dar komuni tagħna. Imma, mal-medda taż- żmien, qed nintebaħ li ma aħniex qed nirreaġixxu biżżejjed, ladarba d-dinja li tilqagħna fiha qed titfarrak u forsi miexja lejn il-punt li fih titkisser” (LD, 2).
Il-Papa jistedinna għal konverżjoni ekoloġika (LS, 216). Din il-konverżjoni għandha twassalna għal “ġesti ġenerużi anki jekk mhu jarahom jew jagħti kashom ħadd” (LS, 220). Fost dawn il- ġesti ġenerużi, fil-gżira tagħna għandna nfittxu, fost l-oħrajn, li:
- Nirrispettaw ir-regoli tas-separazzjoni tal-iskart.
- Nużaw iktar it-trasport pubbliku.
- Nibżgħu għall-ilma, li fi gżiritna qed isir riżorsa dejjem iktar kritika.
- Nibżgħu għall-elettriku, fost l-oħrajn b’użu aktar għaqli tal-arja kkundizzjonata.
- Insemmgħu leħinna kontra żvilupp li mhux sostenibbli għal pajjiżna.
- Ma nħammġux it-toroq, postijiet pubbliċi u l-baħar tagħna.
- Inrażżnu x-xiri ta’ affarijiet li m’għandniex verament bżonnhom.
Kemm hu f’loku l-parir tal-Papa: “Għandna bżonn nisimgħu mill-ġdid li neħtieġu wieħed tal- ieħor, li għandna responsabbiltà lejn l-oħrajn u lejn id-dinja, li jiswa għal xi ħaġa li nkunu tajbin u onesti” (LS, 229)!
Nitlobkom tingħaqdu miegħi fi tmiem din l-Ottava ta’ Pentekoste, biex nitolbu lill-Ispirtu s- Santu jkompli jdawwal lill-Papa Franġisku f’din il-missjoni tiegħu għall-ġid tal-umanità kollha, u jdawwal lilna biex fl-azzjonijiet kollha tagħna – kull wieħed bil-ftit tiegħu jew tagħha
– inħarsu u nindukraw din id-dar komuni tagħna u r-riżorsi li toffrilna. B’hekk inroddu ħajr lil Alla tad-doni kollha li pprovdielna, u naqsmuhom ma’ ħutna kollha bħala wlied tal-istess Missier.
Mogħtija mill-Kurja tal-Isqof, il-Belt Victoria, illum il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Mejju 2024, Tifkira liturġika ta’ Marija Għajnuna tal-Insara.
Mons. Edward Zammit
Kanċillier
Anton Teuma
Isqof ta’ Għawdex
CONCLUDING MESSAGE LAUDATO SI’ WEEK 2024 BY MGR ANTON TEUMA BISHOP OF GOZO
My dear brethren,
On an annual basis, towards the end of May, a Laudato Si’ Week is organised with a specific focus on Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter bearing the same name Laudato Si’ “on care for our common home”, published nine years ago, as well as related documents issued subsequently.
Pope Francis is a front-liner when it comes to spotlighting the very serious crisis which characterises our world as a result of the climate change which has been intentionally brought about and the ensuing disastrous consequences involving lasting hardship for all. These consequences do not only affect the natural systems, but also the human race. There are no more lingering doubts as to the veracity of this phenomenon. Science attests in no uncertain terms as to its reality. Many fear that we have reached a point of no return.
Pope Francis addresses his concerns regarding the progressive destruction of the environment caused by the climate change to each and every one – irrespective of race, religion and sundry distinctions. But he is rightly addressing us as Christians and Catholics fuelled by the hope that we stand up to be counted when it comes to commit ourselves to ensure that regarding our ‘common home’ the damage done be contained as much as possible and the trend reversed.
His Holiness reminds us we are called to be enlightened by the principles of the Gospel that what is happening to the environment around us is of primary importance to the Christian’s faith. With proper reflection it becomes evident that the damage done to our ‘common home’ and the irresponsible squandering of the natural resources stem from sin – particularly greed, pride, individualism, and egoism. Those who feel most the brunt of this tragic situation are the poor and vulnerable across the world. They are the worst hit.
By the grace of God there are Catholics, also in the local Church, who have taken the Pope’s concerns seriously. Unfortunately, there are also others who not only have shown total disregard for the Pope’s teachings, but who also try to assuage their conscience by convincing themselves that the protection of the environment is not their duty as baptised Catholics. The fact is that if we want to live out our faith as Christians, we are in duty bound to put in practice the Church’s proposals in this regard.
His Holiness, not without a heavy heart, states that “eight years have passed since I published the Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’, when I wanted to share with all of you, my brothers and sisters of our suffering planet, my heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home. Yet, with the passage of time, I have realised that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point” (LD, 2).
His Holiness entreats us to an ecological conversion (LS, 216). This process should lead us to “a spirit of generous care, full of tenderness” (LS, 220). Among these generous gestures on our island we should seek to:
- Respect the regulations of waste separation.
- Make more use of public transport.
- Care for water which is increasingly becoming an endangered resource on our island.
- Judicious use of electricity particularly when it comes to air conditioners.
- Speak out against unsustainable ‘development’ on our islands.
- Keep streets, public spaces and the sea unlittered.
- Curb useless spending.
His Holiness’ counsel that “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it” (LS, 229) is indeed timely!
I entreat you to join me at the conclusion of this week of Pentecost to pray to the Holy Spirit to continue enlightening Pope Francis in his mission for the benefit of humanity, and to enlighten us so that in all our actions – each in their capability – we take care of our common home and our common resources. In this manner we would be offering thanks to God for all the gifts he has provided us with and share them with our brethren as children of the same God.
Issued from the Bishop’s Curia, Victoria, today, Friday 24 May 2024, Liturgical Memorial of Mary Help of Christians.
Mgr Edward Zammit
Chancellor
Anton Teuma
Bishop of Gozo