This morning, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Leo XIV received in audience a delegation from the Hera Group.

The following is the address delivered by the Pope during the meeting:

Address of the Holy Father

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.

Good morning and welcome to you all!

I am pleased to welcome you, as a delegation from the Hera Group, for a brief greeting, which gives us the opportunity to emphasize once again the importance of our responsibility in safeguarding creation. From the very first pages of the Bible, the protection of our world appears among the commandments that God chose to give to humankind. It is, therefore, a fundamental task, which today is also reflected in your work.

I am grateful to you for the work you do in seeking to contribute to the care of our Common Home, and I encourage you to continue in this commitment. The ecological challenge of our time is, in fact, more urgent than ever: on the one hand, we are witnessing the uncontrolled consumption of resources; on the other, the management and disposal of enormous quantities of waste is becoming increasingly problematic. To avoid treating every used object as mere waste, we must change our behaviour and commit ourselves to taking a different path. Essentially, this means moving beyond the consumerist model and moving towards a production system capable of preserving our planet’s limited resources. Mindful of God’s commandment, as Christians we cannot resign ourselves to accepting the throwaway culture; rather, we are called to make wise use of creation.

Your activity in the field of recycling shows that it is possible to commit to this path. Indeed, the work you carry out, also in the Vatican, bears witness that the throwaway culture can be effectively countered by a culture of care. This is not limited simply to objects and products, but extends from these to human labour and from labour to people. It is we, in fact, who inhabit the world and who, through our decisions and our behaviour, experience it as a gift from God.

As Pope Francis taught us, the model of recycling and circular production represent a good way of ensuring a sustainable environment for the future generations (cf. Apostolic Letter Laudato si’, 21-22). It is important to give an example of

It is important to set an example of consistency: the Church must be the first to put into practice what she proclaims. Through our joint efforts, we can make our common home ever more beautiful and welcoming.

Thank you for your visit. I bless you and wish you every blessing for your work and your families. Thank you.