MANILA, Philippines—The Catholic Church has given its support to Earth Hour, a global campaign to turn off the lights for one hour on the night of March 28 to underscore the fight against global warming.

Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales called on the Catholic faithful to observe Earth Hour by turning off the lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. that day.

He said even the Vatican would be observing Earth Hour.

Rosales made the call over Church-run Radio Veritas.

Speaking in Filipino, the cardinal said Earth Hour was “not only a reminder but a major undertaking to protect” the environment “which has been neglected and abused in the past.”

“My countrymen, on March 28 let us all join efforts in saving electricity and protecting the environment. Let us try not to use electricity for one hour,” Rosales said.

He lamented how natural resources had been abused, how the rivers and lakes were being “treated like garbage dumpsites.”

“Our only home is this planet,” he said.

On Dec. 8, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) issued a pastoral letter titled, “Upholding the Sanctity of Life,” calling on the Arroyo administration to immediately halt mining operations due to the “uncontrollable plunder” of the country’s natural resources.

The CBCP also called for a stop to illegal logging activities.