Why did Pope John Paul II describe environmental destruction as a grave sin?

Pope John Paul II described the destruction of the environment as a grave sin because he viewed it as a sign of real contempt for humanity. By linking the protection of nature firmly to Catholic theology, he emphasized that the environmental crisis is rooted in a lack of respect for life and a failure of solidarity—a principle of Catholic social teaching that highlights the human responsibility to care for others.12

In his 1990 message for the World Day of Peace, he connected peace with God the Creator to peace with all of creation, stressing that humans must account for the nature of each being and the mutual connections within an ordered system. Ultimately, he taught that because natural resources are limited, the degradation of the planet reflects a disregard for both the created order and the well-being of fellow human beings.21