WASHINGTON—In anticipation of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation on September 1, Bishop Frank J. Dewane of Venice, Florida, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, and Bishop Oscar Cantú of Las Cruces, New Mexico, chairman of the USCCB Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement echoing Pope Francis' call that all people, "Christians or not,...should be united in showing mercy to the earth as our common home."  

The letter emphasizes the call to conversion and the role of mercy in caring for the environment, building on the Pope's message last year. "Showing mercy to our common home first requires a personal and institutional examination of conscience," said Bishops Dewane and Cantú.

The bishops recognized the need for collective action and restated their call for an "energy revolution," stressing that we must especially "remember those who labor in the energy industry, from coal miners and solar engineers to legislators and scientists."

The message also recognizes September 1 as the first day of the "Season of Creation," which concludes on October 4 with the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. The bishops acknowledge that this "is a privileged time for all persons of faith to consider spiritual and corporal acts of mercy towards our common home and all those living in it, so that this may also become a 'season of mercy' within our families, our communities and our world." 

The full text of the letter can be found at: www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/statement-on-world-day-of-prayer-for-care-of-creation.cfm.