For St. Francis, every creature in the world was a mirror of God’s presence and, if approached correctly, a step leading one to God. The most popular saint among environmentalists, and certainly one of the most loved and respected by all sorts
of people is certainly a case apart in the history of Christianity. But his vision has strong echoes in the Bible, from the Genesis to Jesus’ teachings and Catholic tradition. Put together, these legacies allow us to elaborate a Creation Theology that teaches us to love and protect God’s gifts.

Indigenous cultures have long maintained a holistic relationship with nature as part of well-being and wholeness. Now, emerging practices such as the Japanese meditative exercise of Shinrin-yoku, or “forest bathing,” are renewing this relationship with nature to support mental and physical health.

“As photosynthesizing creatures, seaweeds provide us with the oxygen we breathe.” Thanks to their enormous capacity to absorb terrestrial carbon emissions, they could help us fight global warming. But there are risks to be taken into account.

The frequent periods of drought are not a good omen. To heal our relationship with water, which makes up 70% of the entire planet, would mean taking a big step towards safeguarding humanity.

The way to feed eight billion people is as clear as it is revolutionary: stop chasing productivity and start advocating food production. Food must be a right, not a good to be traded on the stock exchange, not a commodity thanks to which you can enrich yourself at the expense of someone else.