LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Earth Day is a day many people celebrate the beauty of our world or God’s creation, as the faithful put it. Pope Francis was a major advocate for the environment and left a wealth of writings as part of his legacy.

Since ancient times, believers have sung of God as the King of Creation. So, it seems natural for Pope Francis to oppose any deterioration of the Earth and urge people to do better.

In 2015, he wrote, “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord.

Ann Romero of Lake Charles is familiar with the Holy Father’s writings on the environment.

“The Earth is God’s creation, and he has made it very clear we’re the stewards, we are not the dictators of the Earth. We are the stewards, and we’re supposed to be taking care of it,” Romero said.

Pope Francis emphasized that Earth was not something to be consumed or used up and that immediate attention is needed. He also wrote about the poorest of the poor experiencing the worst suffering from the degradation of the environment.

“The Earth is in a very, very bad position right now, and we need to take care of it, but we’re not. Everybody needs to know that and that we cannot wait two or three more years before we start acting,” Romero said.

Though some dismiss climate change or other environmental concerns as pseudoscience or propaganda, to Pope Francis the problems are clear and he called for action.

“There is no guessing about what’s happening when we have two hurricanes in two months and flooding that people have never had before, and so forth,” Romero said.

Romero said one way to honor Pope Francis is to take better care of the Earth.

“Find the one thing that you can do. Do it today and do it every other day from now on,” Romero said.

It’s an idea among many that Francis believed might defend and promote the common good.

Here are more of Pope Francis’s writings on the environment:

• “Laudate Deum”
• Vatican News on the environment
• Article on climate deniers
• Mother Earth

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