God created the heavens and the earth, establishing an ordered universe from what had been chaos. Among all that exists – the land and sea, the trees and flowers, the birds, fish, and animals – man and woman stand out as those creatures created in God’s own image and likeness. He has gifted humanity with intellect and free will and has given dominion over all creation. Moreover, from the beginning, God entrusted human beings with the task of cultivating and caring for His handiwork. Humans are stewards of creation, sharing responsibility to ensure that the goodness seen at the beginning continues to radiate testimony to His glory.

From Leo XIII’s promulgation of Rerum Novarum in 1891 to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’, popes have consistently reminded Christians and all people of good will of this responsibility. Success is achieved only when there is a consistent remembrance that humans are creatures, not the Creator. Since the Fall, there has been a tendency to determine what is best independently, often detrimentally affecting neighbors and the world.

Pope Benedict XVI reflected on this reality in his 2010 message for the World Day of Peace: “The harmony between the Creator, mankind and the created world, as described by Sacred Scripture, was disrupted by the sin of Adam and Eve... As a result, the work of ‘exercising dominion’ over the earth... was also disrupted... Human beings let themselves be mastered by selfishness; they misunderstood... exploited creation out of a desire to exercise absolute domination over it” (n. 6). This attitude's destructive impact is evident today.

Christians have an opportunity to foster proper understanding regarding humanity’s dominion over creation. They are not lords but servants of their environment. God asks for protection and nurturing of creation as a means for sustaining life.

Pope Francis reminds us: “This responsibility for God’s earth means that human beings... must respect... delicate equilibria existing between creatures... he fixed their bounds...” (Laudato Si’, n. 68). Therefore, efforts should be made to observe, safeguard, and promote awareness of God's natural order.

As God created everything good due to order imposed on chaos – making man and woman in His image – human sin unravels this order but divine grace restores it. Care for creation begins with care for one’s soul according to God's purpose.

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