"That respect for nature may grow"

With Pope Benedict XVI having vacated the Chair of Peter a few hours ago–with the Church now in a time of Sede Vanante and our heads spinning with emotion and memories of a historic day–Catholics across the globe join in prayer for the Pope Emeritus and the election of the next Successor of Peter.

And Catholic ecologists will certainly also join in the final prayer intention of Pope Benedict XVI as Supreme Pontiff. 

According to the Vatican Information Service:

Vatican City, 28 February 2013 (VIS) – Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for March is: 

"That respect for nature may grow with the awareness that all creation is God's work entrusted to human responsibility."

And we also join in a special way in his mission intention: "That bishops, priests, and deacons may be tireless messengers of the Gospel to the ends of the earth."

God bless the Church!