In a meeting with six newly-accredited Ambassadors to the Holy See, Pope Francis emphasized the critical need for global cooperation in addressing climate change.
The Ambassadors, representing Kuwait, New Zealand, Malawi, Guinea, Sweden, and Chad, presented their Credential Letters the the pontiff at the Vatican.
Pope Francis, known for his advocacy on environmental issues, underscored the significance of multilateral diplomacy in finding global solutions to crises.
He expressed concern over the current state of the world, which he has previously described as a “Third World War fought piecemeal,” and reiterated the importance of diplomatic efforts to address the underlying injustices that fuel conflicts.
“The international community is challenged, through the peaceful means of diplomacy, to seek global solutions to the grave injustices that so often are the cause of those conflicts,” said Pope Francis.
Referencing his recent Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum, the pontiff called for a reconfiguration of multilateral diplomacy to provide effective responses to emerging challenges.
He emphasized the need for global mechanisms to address environmental, public health, cultural, and social changes.
“The patient work of diplomacy must not only seek to prevent and resolve conflicts, but also to consolidate the peaceful coexistence and human flourishing of the world’s peoples by fostering respect for human dignity, defending the inalienable rights of each man, woman, and child, and promoting models of integral economic and human development,” Pope Francis added.
Pope Francis expressed deep concern about the impact on the most vulnerable populations. He referenced his recent address to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP28, where he called on world leaders to adopt concrete measures to address the environmental challenges.
“May, COP28 represent a historic step forward in responding with wisdom and foresight to these clear and present threats to the universal common good,” the Pope said, reaffirming that “the future of us all depends on the present that we now choose”.
