Caring for the earth is the same as caring for the people. According to Cardinal Turkson, that is the call of Pope Francis in his new Encyclical Laudato Si’.
Blog by Lakan Beech, student at the Hato Paora College, written after the conference People and Planet First: the Imperative to Change Course. The article was first published in Te Reo (see below the original language) on the website of The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand
People came from far and near to Rome for a big meeting to respond to this call. The essence of this meeting was to reflect on the purpose of this Encyclical, to debate how we will respond to the changing climate. It was led by people who are pillars of the Catholic church.
“The earth is our mother. It is not as if guardianship of the earth is just a responsibility given to us by God. But we must also care for and love for earth as a child loves its mother.”
In the encyclical, Pope Francis affirms the dignity of indigenous people of the world. Indigenous people came from the ends of the earth to the meeting; from Brazil, the Philippines, Africa and the Pacific.
The rising of the sea is hurting the people of the Pacific. Their discontent came out about the destruction of the environment by Pakeha. The Prime Minister of Tuvalu laid out this challenge:
“The world is being trampled on. The rising of the sea is hurting the people of Tuvalu. We must change for the survival of the people of Tuvalu, we must change for the survival of the people of the whole world.”
The challenge is laid out: we have heard the cry of people and of the earth. This is the call of Pope Francis to the whole world. Take up the challenge, take up your oar and take action!
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“He orite te kaitiakitanga o te whenua ki te kaitiakitanga o te tangata.” E ai ki a Katinara Turkson, koia te karanga a Papa Werahiko i roto i tana Encylical hou (he reta nui ki te ao katoa) ko Laudato Si’ (Whakamoemititia).
I tae mai nga iwi mai tawhiti, mai tata ki Roma mo tetahi tahuna a tara ki te whakautu i tenei karanga. Ko te tino ngako o tenei huihuinga kia whakaaroaro ai i te aronga o tenei Encyclical, kia tohe ai me pehea tatou e whakautu ai ki te panoni o te huarere i roto i te ao. Ka arahina tenei hui e nga tino pou o te Hahi Katorika.
“Ko PapatUanuku to tatou whaea. Ehara i te mea ko te kaitiakitanga o te whenua he takohanga anake o nga tangata i homaitia e te Ariki. Engari, me tiaki, me aroha te whenua. Ano nei te aroha o tetahi tamaiti mo tOna whaea”.
I roto i te Encyclical, ka whakapaetia e Papa Werahiko te mana o nga tangata tiketike o te ao. I tae mai nga tangata tiketike i nga pito katoa o te ao. I haramai ratou i Parihi, i Piripini, me Awherika me Te Moana nui a Kiwa.
Ma te aranga ake o te moana, ka whakamamaetia nga iwi o Te Moana nui a Kiwa. Ka puta to ratou nanunanu ki te anea o Papatuanuku na nga Pakeha. Na Te Minitia Tautahi o Tuvalu i takoto i tetahi manuka ki te Pakeha.
“Ka takahia a Nuku, ka takahia a Rangi ma te apo a te Pakeha. Ka ara ake te moana, me te aha, ka whakamamamaetia nga iwi o Tuvalu. Me panoni tatou mo te oranga o toku iwi. Me panoni tatou mo te oranga o te ao”.
No reira e te iwi, kua takoto te Manuka. Kua rangona e tatou te tangi a nga iwi, me te tangi a Papatuanuku. Kua Karanga a Papa Werahiko ki nga iwi o te ao katoa! No reira, tangohia te Manuka, ki te hoe!