our own principles has at times led us to justifymistreatingnature, to exercise tyrannyover creation, to
engage in war, injustice and acts of violence, we believers should acknowledge that by so doing we
were not faithful to the treasures of wisdom which we have been called to protect and preserve.
Cultural limitations in different eras often affected the perception of these ethical and spiritual
treasures, yet by constantly returning to their sources, religions will be better equipped to respond to
today’s needs.
201. The majority of people living on our planet profess to be believers. This should spur religions
to dialogue among themselves for the sake of protecting nature, defending the poor, and building
networks of respect and fraternity. Dialogue among the various sciences is likewise needed, since each
can tend to become enclosed in its own language, while specialization leads to a certain isolation and
the absolutization of its own field of knowledge. This prevents us from confronting environmental
problems effectively. An open and respectful dialogue is also needed between the various ecological
movements, among which ideological conflicts are not infrequently encountered. The gravity of the
ecological crisis demands that we all look to the common good, embarkingon apath of dialoguewhich
demands patience, self-discipline and generosity, always keeping inmind that “realities are greater than
ideas”.
143
143
Ibid., 231: p. 1114.
