The priest said: “Until some time ago the theme of the environment could have seemed a concern of the rich rather than the poor, of developed countries rather than those less so, for which economic development was instead an absolute priority.

“Regulating and limiting this development seemed like a luxury, a way of keeping the weak in their condition of subjection. Now, the frequent disasters caused by environmental disequilibrium strike with greater force those who do not have the means to defend themselves, and an awareness is growing of an irreparable impoverishment of the resources of the weakest countries.”

In his message for the World Day of Peace, Benedict XVI emphasized that “today humanity fears for future ecological equilibrium.”

According to Father Lombardi, “the Pope links a powerful moral appeal to solidarity, on the basis of the recognition of a universal destination of the goods of creation, that also takes the poor and future generations into account.”

The Vatican spokesman says that the Pope “invites dialogue, serious scientific study of the problems without ‘ideological escalation,' wisdom in the research on ‘models of sustainable development’ and -- with significant concreteness -- he proposes an intensified dialogue between nations on the ‘management of the planets energy resources.’”

“Once again," he added, "knowing that we are created by God makes us responsible before him and other people, but we must also find practical ways toward the future of humanity in this our common home through the toil of reason and dialogue. An alliance between faith and reason is needed."