LORETO, Italy (Reuters) – Pope Benedict on Saturday led the Catholic Church’s first eco-friendly youth rally — where nearly everything used was biodegradable or recyclable — and urged his young listeners to shun “disposable love”. BBC coverage (includes video link)
The 80-year-old Pope told the young people, estimated by organisers at some 300,000, to dare to change the world and search for lasting, meaningful relationships.
The two-day rally, which coincides with the Italian Catholic Church’s “Day for Safeguarding Creation,” saw young people sprawled on a vast hillside near the central Adriatic shrine city of Loreto.
Italy’s Catholic Church, which organised the event, said it was the first environmentally friendly youth rally, a break from past gatherings that left tonnes of garbage and scars on the earth.
A participants’ kit included backpacks made of recyclable material, a flashlight operated by a crank instead of batteries, and colour-coded trash bags so their personal garbage could be easily recycled. Meals were served on biodegradable plates.
Tags: Environment
