Sun of God: The Vatican Goes Solar
And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.
And the Pope answered, Let there be solar energy; and there was solar energy.
On Monday, the Vatican installed solar panels on its papal audience hall, channeling the light of God toward more renewable means. The photovoltaic cells will produce enough energy to provide heat, cool air and electricity for the holy hall. The building is used when bad weather days force worshipers to take their prayers inside. An AP article news blurb says that a total of 2,700 panels will provide 300,000 kilowatt hours of energy.
This isn’t the first time the Pope is using his white robes to further the green cause. Pope Benedict has sounded the church bells about a number of environmental issues, his latest being the threat of tourism to the natural world. Two days ago the Pope greeted people from groups that promote sustainable tourism and probably reminded them that God created this environment and that we should be good stewards, according to the Bible. After all, without the environment where would Adam and Eve have gotten the leaves to first cover themselves?
Earlier, in the beginning of August, the Pope went as far to attribute nature’s destruction to man living in a materialistic world and denying of God. Apparently Benedict takes his views from an old Catholic figure - Francis of Assisi. The saint is the patron saint of animals, and grew up with birds on his arms, if I remember my evenings goofing off in Catholic education correctly.
And even earlier this year, pollution was added to the new list of deadly sins.
But wait a second! I thought that Catholics were supposed to be conservative! Pope Benedict is laying that stereotype down to rest, however. He’s been labeled a green pope, and he’s arguably done the most of any pope so far.
Evolution might be asking too much, though.
Related Posts:
Environmental Movement Gets a Jolt of Pope Power
The Pope Goes Green
The Pope, Myself, You and the Environment
Photo Credit: sam_herd on Flickr under a Creative Commons License
The Pope is great
He’s a high roller
Now he’s even greater
‘Cos he’s gone solar
Great work from the Pope, but this article stinks. First, Benedict is not a 7 day creationist or anything approaching a biblical literalist. Second, St. Francis was a medieval figure not someone living anywhere near the time period in which the author places him. I guess all of the nuance we see in investigating most things in life stops when the term religion comes up and it is ok to be sloppy and treat Benedict as though he was Pat Robertson or something. Do a little research next time.
I’m sorry you feel this way. I think you didn’t understand that this post was written in a light-hearted, slightly satirical feel. And though I goofed with the St. Francis thing, I grew up going to a Catholic church and with CCD every week, so it wasn’t for lack of a religious background or lack of investigation. Just an honest mistake.
Way to go Amanda. Good writing and a great article. Do you remember when Reagan tore the solar panels off the west wing roof? It was the end of an era. There are actually advocacy groups trying to get them back up, along with a group who is trying to get a vegy garden on the white house lawn. We lead by example, right?
Working in D.C., I’ve promised to get pics, if the garden ever happens.
Keep up the good fight girl! and keep altering the eco!
A fellow environmental writer
Why would you think Catholics are conservative?
Jesus was a radical. Catholics are to be radical.
[...] have praised the Vatican and Pope Benedict for finishing the installation of its 2400-panel solar photovoltaic array, a move that will cut its carbon monoxide emissions by about 225 tons and save the equivalent of 80 [...]
[...] Green, and Blue]Hindus have praised the Vatican and Pope Benedict for finishing the installation of its 2400-panel solar photovoltaic array, a move that will cut its carbon monoxide emissions by about 225 tons and save the equivalent of 80 [...]
[...] it’s time to check out what everybody’s favorite green Pope has been up to since my last post on the installation of solar panels in The Vatican City. It seems there hasn’t been anything big happening, but the comments about the environment in [...]