Vatican theologians: Damage to nature is “sin against creation and the Creator,” the poor are affected most severely

The Vatican’s International Theological Commission has proposed defining damage to nature as “sin against creation and the Creator,” linking environmental protection to the responsibility of the Christian faith.

In its new document, titled “Caring for Our Common Home,” Vatican theologians argue that human beings bear direct responsibility for environmental deterioration. According to them, damage to nature cannot be separated from responsibility toward God.

For this reason, the Commission uses the expression “sin against creation and the Creator,” rather than terms such as “ecological sin” or “ecocide.”

The document emphasizes that the environmental crisis has tangible and often dramatic consequences. Pollution, the destruction of ecosystems and climate change weigh particularly heavily on the poorest sections of society and, according to the Vatican, have also caused numerous deaths.

The theologians also call for a review of lifestyles and consumption patterns. Care for the planet, the document stresses, is not only a moral obligation but also a spiritual responsibility.