Pope Francis in the Philippines (11 page)

A
second
key
area
where
you
are
called
to
make
a
contribution
is
in
showing
concern
for
the
environment
.
This
is
not
only
because
this
country
,
more
than
many
others
,
is
likely
to
be
seriously
affected
by
climate
change
.
You
are
called
to
care
for
creation
not
only
as
responsible
citizens
,
but
also
as
followers
of
Christ
!
Respect
for
the
environment
means
more
than
simply
using
cleaner
products
or
recycling
what
we
use
.
These
are
important
aspects
,
but
not
enough
.
We
need
to
see
,
with
the
eyes
of
faith
,
the
beauty
of
God
'
s
saving
plan
,
the
link
between
the
natural
environment
and
the
dignity
of
the
human
person
.
Men
and
women
are
made
in
the
image
and
likeness
of
God
,
and
given
dominion
over
creation
(
cf
.
Gen
1:26-28).
As
stewards
of
God
'
s
creation
,
we
are
called
to
make
the
earth
a
beautiful
garden
for
the
human
family
.
When
we
destroy
our
forests
,
ravage
our
soil
and
pollute
our
seas
,
we
betray
that
noble
calling
.

Three
months
ago
,
your
Bishops
addressed
these
issues
in
a
prophetic
Pastoral
Letter
.
They
asked
everyone
to
think
about
the
moral
dimension
of
our
activities
and
lifestyles
,
our
consumption
and
our
use
of
the
earth
'
s
resources
.
Today
I
ask
you
to
do
this
in
the
context
of
your
own
lives
and
your
commitment
to
the
building
up
of
Christ
'
s
kingdom
.
Dear
young
people
,
the
just
use
and
stewardship
of
the
earth
'
s
resources
is
an
urgent
task
,
and
you
have
an
important
contribution
to
make
.
You
are
the
future
of
the
Philippines
.
Be
concerned
about
what
is
happening
to
your
beautiful
land
!

A
final
area
in
which
you
can
make
a
contribution
is
one
dear
to
all
of
us
.
It
is
care
for
the
poor
.
We
are
Christians
.
We
are
members
of
God
'
s
family
.
No
matter
how
much
or
how
little
we
have
individually
,
each
one
of
us
is
called
to
personally
reach
out
and
serve
our
brothers
and
sisters
in
need
.
There
is
always
someone
near
us
in
need
,
materially
,
emotionally
,
spiritually
.
The
greatest
gift
we
can
give
to
them
is
our
friendship
,
our
concern
,
our
tenderness
,
our
love
for
Jesus
.
To
receive
Jesus
is
to
have
everything
;
to
give
him
is
to
give
the
greatest
gift
of
all
.

Many
of
you
know
what
it
is
to
be
poor
.
But
many
of
you
have
also
experienced
something
of
the
blessedness
that
Jesus
promised
to
"
the
poor
in
spirit
" (
cf
Mt
5:3).
Here
I
would
say
a
word
of
encouragement
and
gratitude
to
those
of
you
who
choose
to
follow
our
Lord
in
his
poverty
through
a
vocation
to
the
priesthood
and
the
religious
life
;
by
drawing
on
that
poverty
you
will
enrich
many
.
But
to
all
of
you
,
especially
those
who
can
do
more
and
give
more
,
I
ask
:
Please
,
do
more
!
Please
,
give
more
!
When
you
give
of
your
time
,
your
talents
and
your
resources
to
the
many
people
who
struggle
and
who
live
on
the
margins
,
you
make
a
difference
.
It
is
a
difference
that
is
so
desperately
needed
,
and
one
for
which
you
will
be
richly
rewarded
by
the
Lord
.
For
,
as
he
has
said
: "
you
will
have
treasure
in
heaven
" (
Mk
10:21).

Twenty
years
ago
,
in
this
very
place
,
Saint
John
Paul
II
said
that
the
world
needs
"
a
new
kind
of
young
person
" –
one
committed
to
the
highest
ideals
and
eager
to
build
the
civilization
of
love
.
Be
those
young
persons
!
Never
lose
your
idealism
!
Be
joyful
witnesses
to
God
'
s
love
and
the
beautiful
plan
he
has
for
us
,
for
this
country
and
for
the
world
in
which
we
live
.
Please
pray
for
me
.
God
bless
you
all
!