1965 – Gaudium et Spes – document of the Second Vatican Council, promulgated by Paul VI: “God has destined the earth and everything it contains for all peoples and nations.” 1971 – Paul VI – apostolic letter Octogesima Adveniens: “By an ill-considered exploitation of nature, man risks destroying it.” 1972 Paul VI – Message to the United Nations conference on the environment, Stockholm: “Today, indeed, there is a growing awareness that man and his environment are more inseparable than ever. The environment essentially conditions man’s life and development, while man, in his turn, perfects and ennobles his environment through his presence, work and contemplation.“Human creativeness will yield true and lasting benefits o