By Carol Glatz • Catholic News Service • Posted August 31, 2017

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Catholic bishops’ conferences and Christian churches in Europe have invited all Christians to pray for the world and the environment during a monthlong celebration of creation.

“Recent developments remind us of the growing urgency of the continuing climate change, loss of biodiversity, growing piles of waste and many other challenges,” said a joint statement by the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences, the Conference of European Churches and the European Christian Environmental Network.

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“Even if we know there are several causes, we cannot forget that part of the problem is due to our selfishness, lack of care and widespread misunderstanding of the world as a source of profit,” said the statement, which was released Aug. 31.

Because “Christians of all traditions acknowledge creation as a gift from God,” the three groups jointly called on all Christians to care for and manage creation with responsibility.

They invited parishes, church communities and people of good will to celebrate a “Time for Creation” from Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 as well as to observe the Sept. 1 World Day of Prayer for Creation.

“We will celebrate ‘Time for Creation’ together,” the church groups said, “to uphold the common Christian faith in God the Creator.”