SYDNEY (AFP) — Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday accused humanity of squandering the earth's resources to satisfy its insatiable appetite for material goods, in one of his strongest-ever messages on the environment.
He told about 150,000 pilgrims gathered in Sydney for World Youth Day celebrations that during his long flight from the Vatican to Australia, he was struck by the wondrous views from his plane, evoking a profound sense of awe.
But the 81-year-old pontiff told his youthful audience that the planet's problems were also easier to perceive from the sky.
"Perhaps reluctantly, we come to acknowledge that there are scars which mark the surface of our earth -- erosion, deforestation, the squandering of the world's mineral and ocean resources in order to fuel an insatiable consumption," he said.
"Some of you come from island nations whose very existence is threatened by rising water levels, others from nations suffering the effects of devastating drought.
"God's wondrous creation is sometimes experienced as almost hostile to its stewards, even something dangerous. How can what is 'good' appear so threatening?"
The spiritual leader of the world's 1.1 billion Catholics listed care for the environment and sustainable development as vital concerns for humanity, along with non-violence, justice and peace.
He recalled his joy at the views seen on his flight to Australia, saying it was like a glimpse of the genesis creation story.
"The sparkle of the Mediterranean, the grandeur of the north African desert, the lushness of Asia's forestation, the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, the horizon upon which sun rose and set, and the majestic splendour of Australia's natural beauty which I have been able to enjoy this last couple of days -- these all evoke a profound sense of awe," he said.
The German-born pontiff has made the environment a major cause for the Vatican, prompting the US magazine Newsweek to dub him "The Green Pope" when he travelled to North America in April.
Last year, he called for greater international cooperation to protect the environment and voiced anxiety about the impact of global warming.
He has also announced plans to make Vatican City carbon-neutral, using renewable energy such as solar panels on the Holy See's ancient building and carbon credits to offset emissions.
Environmental concerns are also prominent in World Youth Day host nation Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, which remains in the grip of the worst drought in more than a century.
Pope Benedict noted Australia's environmental concerns earlier Thursday when Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd officially welcomed him to the world's largest Christian festival.
"The wonder of God's creation reminds us of the need to protect the environment and to exercise responsible stewardship of the goods of the earth," the pontiff said.
"In this connection, I note that Australia is making a serious commitment to address its responsibility to care for the natural environment."
The pope said the gathering of young Catholics was an appropriate venue to reflect on the world that future generations will inherit.
About 6,000 of the 100,000-plus international pilgrims in Australia have come from Pacific island nations, many of which are threatened by rising sea levels blamed on global warming.
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