The coronavirus crisis should not hinder efforts to protect our ‘common home’, church officials said.

Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo of Caritas Philippines said that the pandemic is devastating, but failing to tackle climate change and other environmental concerns only compounds the tragedy.

“There are still many challenges to overcome, and dangerous curves to beat, but together, we are stronger, because together, we can do more,” Bagaforo said.

He made the statement on March 3 during the virtual launching of their “2021 National Laudato Si Program”, which institutionalizes the “Church’s full commitment to concretely care for our common home”.

The program was a product of discussion between the CBCP Inter-Commission Working Group on Laudato Si and the Global Catholic Climate Movement – Pilipinas.

But for the program to be successful and make an impact on the climate emergency, Bagaforo said that the church needs the people’s “commitment and ownership”.

“We appeal for your support. The church, with our partners — our efforts will remain insufficient, wanting, and immaterial, if you will not join this cause,” he said.

In a video message, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, president of Caritas Internationalis, pressed the need to go from words to action in caring for the planet.

“Let us advocate for the protection of our common home. It is not enough to just speak but to promote what we call the spirituality of stewardship,” Tagle said.

For his part, CBCP president Archbishop Romulo Valles said that climate change and Covid-19 are two different challenges, but they do have some things in common.

According to him, both are global and both require countries to work together to find a solution.

“I hope that we translate our ‘yes’ into action, however small they are. We start addressing this global concern by making local and practical steps at home and in our communities,” he said.