In a message delivered to the delegates at the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP28) in Dubai, Pope Francis, though unable to attend in person, emphasized the critical importance of the choices made in the present for the future of all humanity.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, delivered the pontiff’s speech, urging world leaders to take concrete and cohesive actions to address the urgent environmental challenges facing our common home.
Pope Francis stated that the future of humanity hinges on the decisions made today. The backdrop of a year marked by record heat and drought made this year’s UN Summit particularly crucial, with contentious issues at the forefront of discussions among nations striving to find common ground on climate change.
The pontiff said that the destruction of the environment is not only a personal sin but also a structural one, posing a severe threat to all human beings, especially the most vulnerable.
Pope Francis underscored that climate change is a global social issue intertwined with the dignity of human life, challenging leaders to choose between a culture of life or a culture of death.
The Pope attributed the root cause of the climate crisis to the excessive heating of the planet due to unsustainable human activities and escalating levels of greenhouse gases.
He criticized the obsession with production and possession, resulting in unbridled environmental exploitation, and called for a halt to this illusion of omnipotence.
Pope Francis rejected attempts to blame the poor and high birth rates, citing the disproportionate impact of environmental issues on the poor, including indigenous peoples, deforestation, hunger, water and food insecurity, and forced migration.
The Pope argued against penalizing economically burdened countries, advocating instead for a reconsideration of the “ecological debt” owed by wealthier nations.
He called for a comprehensive and equitable approach to address the interconnected issues of climate change, economic debt, and social justice on a global scale.
Pope Francis proposed that the way out of the environmental crisis lies in unity and multilateralism. He lamented the cooling of multilateralism amid global warming and emphasized the crucial role of trust in rebuilding effective international collaboration.
The Holy Father drew a direct connection between environmental and peace issues, condemning the waste of resources on wars worldwide.
He proposed redirecting funds from military expenditures to establish a global fund to end hunger, support sustainable development in poorer countries, and combat climate change.
Pope Francis urged political change, departing from narrow self-interest and nationalism, and fostering ecological conversion.
He assured the commitment and support of the Catholic Church in education, participation, and promoting sound lifestyles.
Pope Francis expressed hope that 2024 could mark a breakthrough, drawing inspiration from the transformative experience of Saint Francis of Assisi.
He called on leaders to unite forces, leave behind divisions, and work together to emerge from the night of wars and environmental devastation, turning our common future into the dawn of a new and radiant day.