“They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks” (Is 2:4).

The Holy Father’s Message for the upcoming World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which is traditionally celebrated on 1 September, highlights the connection between armed conflict and environmental degradation. Such degradation constitutes both a serious violation of our duty to care for creation, as well as a long-term threat to the lives of hundreds of millions of people. The now widespread awareness of the impact of war on natural resources has not led to the creation of adequate institutions or to responsible decisions aimed at preventing conflicts and resolving disputes peacefully. The title — a passage in which Isaiah prophesies the transformation of weapons into agricultural tools — is an explicit invitation to prioritize development and sustainability over violence and destruction.