The Environment [Hardcover]

Pope Benedict XVI (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 18, 2012

"I willingly join in spirit all who are grateful to the Lord for the fruits of the earth and the work of human hands, renewing the pressing invitation to respect the natural environment, a precious resource entrusted to our stewardship" Pope Benedict XVI. (Angelus, November 15, 2009)


Pope Benedict has not been shy in regards to issues of the environment. He has spoken frequently about everyone's right to food, right to water and responsible sharing. He has spoken about the real meaning of progress and development and what that means for our planet of limited resources. He has discussed climate change, the connection between science and nature and how the path of cultivating peace is directly linked to protecting creation.


An unprecedented collection of excerpts from what Pope Benedict has had to say regarding the environment, this book is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration surrounding the Church and the world in which we live.


Preservation of the environment, promotion of sustainable development and particular attention to climate change are matters of grave concern for the entire human family. With increasing clarity, scientific research demonstrates that the impact of human actions in any one place or region can have worldwide effects. -- Pope Benedict XVI, Message for the 2007 World Day of Peace, 8.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (April 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612786286
• ISBN-13: 978-1612786285
• Product Dimensions: 0.9 x 5.4 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #783,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Two Important Points to Know before Buying September 23, 2012

By figgie4ever

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I give this book two stars not because the book itself is bad, but because the publishers make it seem very different than it is, mainly in two ways.

First, unless you pay close attention, you may not realize that this is NOT a book written by Pope Benedict himself. It is in fact a book compiled of excerpts of speeches, letters, homilies, etc. in which he speaks on the "environment."

Second, I put "environment" in quotations because in the introduction they give a VERY broad definition of what they believe to be environment. They explain that you can't speak on the natural environment without speaking about the "human environment." By this they mean the issue of developing countries, starving people, water availability, etc. It is true that as Catholics we can't merely focus on the natural environment and ignore the human environment. HOWEVER, I hoped to hear more of what His Holiness had to say about the natural environment. Most of the excerpts are about those issues of human environment with very little about the natural environment.

That being said, if you understand both of my points above and still are interested in the book, then you will likely enjoy it. For myself, however, it is two stars as I thought I was getting a very different book than I got.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Holy Father Calls for Stewardship of the Earth September 15, 2012

By Kevin M. Derby TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

"The Environment" is the latest in a series of books from Our Sunday Visitor (OSV) Press publishing the public writings of Benedict XVI. Drawing from a host of addresses, speeches, letters and writings, encylicals and other materials, OSV presents an interesting but often disjointed collection from Benedict. While OSV rightfully included full and detailed passages instead of trying to break Benedict's thoughts into soundbites, they often included material that has little to do, at first glance, on the environment including Christmas greetings, wars in the name of God and thoughts on St. Martin de Porres. But there are some major topics covered in these pieces including God and the environment, substance, hunger and water preservation. While Benedict's thoughts on the environment are often buried in the text, OSV chose wisely in showing the entire context of his thinking instead of boiling it down to a simple slogan. Readers who are expecting Benedict to fall into the simple positions we see on television will be in for a surprise. The Holy Father is neither an anti-growth advocate who wants to see the environment placed above humanity--nor is he a supporter of allowing us to exploit the environment for our own profit. Instead, Benedict remains a leading and thoughtful guide for balance and for trying to connect with God. In thinking in paragraphs instead of soundbites and by reflecting on his position instead of relying on simple slogans, Benedict continues to stand against the times--and humanity is better for it.