“Web of Life”: theme of the Ecumenical Initiative for 2019 Season of Creation

ROME – The Christian Church together with the Catholics, Anglicans and Orthodox, called for all
believers to consider the month of September as the “Season of Creation” to capture the awareness
of everyone about climate change.

In this matter of time, Christians are seeking to carry out in the 6 continent the Laudato Si, according to
the Dicastery for Integral Human Development of the Vatican, through participating in the activities
under the love for the creator, in our environment and to one another.

Meanwhile, the publishing of Laudato Si written by Pope Francis was a means to influence the discussion
about the continuous elavating heat of earth that led to the Paris Agreement.

The said Initiative came together with a letter from Cardinal Peter Turkson, leader of the Vatican’s
dicastery; Archbishop Job of Telmessos for Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew; Archbishop Justin Welby
of Canterbury head of the Anglican Communion; and Reverend Olav Fykse Tveit, head of World Council
of Churhces. Orthodox on the other hand, already considered September 1 as the Season of Creation.

This month’s initiative has a theme ‘Web of Life’ to recognize the role of humanity as stewards of
creation and also to address the pressing need for biodiversity care. According to the United Nations, at
least one million species are at risk of extinction, primarily because of the way people live.

Stated in the Vatican dictionary that the invitation sent to the Catholic communities this 2019 is related
to the upcoming Synod of Bishops regarding the Amazon. Synod will begin two days after the season of
creation on October 4, 2019. The regions of Amazon are at risk for environmental degradation and
systematic violations of the basic rights of the people in it.