Pope Leo XIV: A change of course is needed on environment
Scouts de France take part to the scouts de France
By Tiziana CampisiThe increasingly grave 'environmental devastation that is occurring' is profoundly challenging people's consciences....There is an 'urgency' to address this by 'all of humanity..."
Pope Leo XIV underscored this to the scouts and guides of France in a message sent for the great 'Clameurs' Rally in Jambville, which began on July 24 and concludes today, July 28.
The gathering was organized to 'reflect on a more just and sustainable world,' with the goal of 'contributing to the protection of the environment,' 'strengthening commitment to the common good,' and 'being agents of change, putting Scouting at the service of combating climate change.'
New paths to safeguard creation
The Pope explained to the young people that 'in the face of pollution and climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the deterioration of life and social degradation, global inequalities, the lack of drinking water and access to energy for many populations, an ecological education is essential for everyone to reverse the order of things.'
Therefore, the 'Clameurs' Rally, the Holy Father said, 'allows [us] to discern and find new paths and directions to safeguard our common home.'
'You are young, you are full of ideas and enthusiasm. You want to conquer the world not to subdue it, but to serve the life that comes from God,' the Pope observed, adding that to fully live out Christian values requires 'humility,' a 'spirit of service,' and 'a deep relationship with Christ.'
Interior conversion is necessary
'Only an inner conversion makes possible the change of habits and mentality that leads to a new way of living in communion with the environment,' Pope Leo affirmed.
He acknowledged that scouts—accustomed to living in nature, to crafting objects, participating in games and night vigils, and finding their way—tend 'to treat creation with respect,' and for this reason they can 'give so much to society through' their 'way of life.'
Convinced that the days at the Jambville event can further enrich young people 'with values such as encountering and welcoming others in their differences and complementarity,' the Pope urged the youth of the movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell to be 'ambassadors of fraternity and peace' in their daily environments.
The 'different cultural traditions,' the various 'social contexts' they come from, and their different ages and personalities, the Holy Father pointed out, are 'a richness, a resource,' because they allow one to see things more broadly 'and to imagine a world of peace with the weapons of the Christian: faith, truth, justice, and the Gospel of peace.'
The responsibility of being disciples of Christ
Then, addressing those who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the gathering, Pope Leo specified that in this sacrament one receives 'the Holy Spirit in fullness,' a 'divine presence' that 'guides, enlightens and comforts' on the 'journey of faith.' Hence comes the 'invitation to invoke Him often so as to be filled with His gifts and graces.'
With confirmation there arises 'the responsibility' to be active disciples of Christ, committed 'to proclaiming the Gospel and to loving one's neighbor,' the Holy Father added.
The faithful, he said, are thus 'charged with bearing witness' to their 'faith in the world, [of] being agents of change and hope in society,' and for this one needs 'a life of prayer and friendship with God.'
Never stop believing in a better world
Finally, the Pope encouraged the French scouts 'to go forward without losing hope,' without becoming discouraged 'and without giving in to pessimism.'
'Know that each of you is unique in creation, personally loved by the Lord. Never stop believing in a better world and in the coming of an authentic civilization of love,' Pope Leo concluded, expressing the hope that young people, as Pope Francis has said, may 'be builders of bridges between generations, cultures and peoples.'--Vatican News
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Herald Malaysia
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Pope Leo XIV: A change of course is needed on environment
Pope Leo XIV writes to French guides and scouts partaking in the 'Clameurs' Rally in Jambville, which concludes today, insisting that an ecological education is needed—one that addresses not only the loss of biodiversity but also global inequalities, the lack of drinking water, and the lack of access to energy for many populations. Jul 29, 2025 Scouts de France take part to the scouts de France By Tiziana CampisiThe increasingly grave 'environmental devastation that is occurring' is profoundly challenging people's is an 'urgency' to address this by 'all of humanity..." Pope Leo XIV underscored this to the scouts and guides of France in a message sent for the great 'Clameurs' Rally in Jambville, which began on July 24 and concludes today, July 28. The gathering was organized to 'reflect on a more just and sustainable world,' with the goal of 'contributing to the protection of the environment,' 'strengthening commitment to the common good,' and 'being agents of change, putting Scouting at the service of combating climate change.' New paths to safeguard creation The Pope explained to the young people that 'in the face of pollution and climate change, the loss of biodiversity, the deterioration of life and social degradation, global inequalities, the lack of drinking water and access to energy for many populations, an ecological education is essential for everyone to reverse the order of things.' Therefore, the 'Clameurs' Rally, the Holy Father said, 'allows [us] to discern and find new paths and directions to safeguard our common home.' 'You are young, you are full of ideas and enthusiasm. You want to conquer the world not to subdue it, but to serve the life that comes from God,' the Pope observed, adding that to fully live out Christian values requires 'humility,' a 'spirit of service,' and 'a deep relationship with Christ.' Interior conversion is necessary 'Only an inner conversion makes possible the change of habits and mentality that leads to a new way of living in communion with the environment,' Pope Leo affirmed. He acknowledged that scouts—accustomed to living in nature, to crafting objects, participating in games and night vigils, and finding their way—tend 'to treat creation with respect,' and for this reason they can 'give so much to society through' their 'way of life.' Convinced that the days at the Jambville event can further enrich young people 'with values such as encountering and welcoming others in their differences and complementarity,' the Pope urged the youth of the movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell to be 'ambassadors of fraternity and peace' in their daily environments. The 'different cultural traditions,' the various 'social contexts' they come from, and their different ages and personalities, the Holy Father pointed out, are 'a richness, a resource,' because they allow one to see things more broadly 'and to imagine a world of peace with the weapons of the Christian: faith, truth, justice, and the Gospel of peace.' The responsibility of being disciples of Christ Then, addressing those who are receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the gathering, Pope Leo specified that in this sacrament one receives 'the Holy Spirit in fullness,' a 'divine presence' that 'guides, enlightens and comforts' on the 'journey of faith.' Hence comes the 'invitation to invoke Him often so as to be filled with His gifts and graces.' With confirmation there arises 'the responsibility' to be active disciples of Christ, committed 'to proclaiming the Gospel and to loving one's neighbor,' the Holy Father added. The faithful, he said, are thus 'charged with bearing witness' to their 'faith in the world, [of] being agents of change and hope in society,' and for this one needs 'a life of prayer and friendship with God.' Never stop believing in a better world Finally, the Pope encouraged the French scouts 'to go forward without losing hope,' without becoming discouraged 'and without giving in to pessimism.' 'Know that each of you is unique in creation, personally loved by the Lord. Never stop believing in a better world and in the coming of an authentic civilization of love,' Pope Leo concluded, expressing the hope that young people, as Pope Francis has said, may 'be builders of bridges between generations, cultures and peoples.'--Vatican News
The Star
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Generations of Germans believe Frederick the Great brought the beloved potato to Germany. The legend is this: King Frederick II of Prussia wanted his subjects to eat potatoes, introduced to Europe in the 16th century from South America. But the people of Prussia, which later became part of a united Germany, wouldn't touch the tuber. So the 18th-century monarch resorted to trickery. He placed royal guards and soldiers along the edge of his palace garden – thus creating the illusion that potatoes were a rare and valuable crop reserved for the royal family and its aristocratic friends. But the guards withdrew from their posts each night, creating an opportunity for enterprising locals to sneak in and 'steal' the spuds. Thus began Germany's love affair with the humble kartoffel and Frederick's rebranding as Der Kartoffelkonig or the potato king. Except it's all fake. Bogus. Phony. Or Falsch, as the Germans would say. 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Anke Schoenfelder, project manager for German potato marketing company Kartoffel-Marketing, says her favourite tuber tradition is rooted in making 'Kartoffel-Karotten-Gugelhupf' (potato and carrot Bundt cake, recipe on the right) for family gatherings. 'Taste is memory, right? And when this is related to your family, this is even more part of your identity,' she said. The palace was once the summer home of King Frederick II of Prussia. Plus, Schoenfelder added, the potato can be used as a beauty product – the juice can be good for your skin, she says – or a household cleaner, for stubborn stains on the bottom of your oven. For now, Der Kartoffelkonig's legend lives on. As Luh was speaking to reporters in front of the king's grave, two tourists placed their offerings of potatoes on the tomb. One even took a selfie as she did so. 'I always think I should go here in the evening when I have no potatoes at home,' the historian joked. 'I could take them away and have a good meal afterwards.' – AP The potato and carrot Bundt cake or kartoffel karotten gugelhupf is often served during Easter in Germany. — Kartoffel-Marketing/ Potato and carrot Bundt cake recipe One 10-cup Bundt pan Time: 90 minutes Serves: 12 Ingredients: 250g high-starch potato (such as Russet and Maris Piper) 250g carrots 50ml carrot juice 50ml sunflower oil 4 eggs (medium-sized, room temperature) 200g sugar 1 packet vanilla sugar 125g almonds, ground 125g all-purpose flour melted butter to grease the mould 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs Wash the potatoes and boil them in salted water for 20 to 25 minutes, until tender. Let them cool slightly, peel them, and then press them through a potato ricer into a bowl. Wash and peel the carrots and grate them finely with the potatoes, using a vegetable grater or a mandolin. Generously grease the Bundt pan with oil or butter. Coat the pan with some breadcrumbs. Preheat oven to 200°C on the fan setting. Add carrot juice, sunflower oil, eggs, vanilla sugar, sugar, flour, baking powder and ground almonds to the mashed potatoes and grated carrots and mix with a hand mixer for about four minutes until a dough forms. Pour the potato-carrot cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan. Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes until cooked through (if necessary, cover the pan with aluminium foil after half an hour to prevent the cake from burning). Let the cake cool completely (you can also do this on a balcony or terrace) before decorating it with icing. This is important, because otherwise the icing will seep into the cake. In a bowl, combine the powdered sugar and a little lemon juice until thickened. Pour the icing over the cooled cake and decorate with your preferred toppings like chocolate chips, for example. Let it rest a bit to allow the icing to set.
