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Today, as in the aftermath of the Second World War, the international community needs to set as a priority the implementation of collegial, farsighted actions, says Francis
Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Glasgow, November 2, 2021 (YouTube screengrab)
By La Croix International staff | United Kingdom
Pope Francis in his message to the U.N. COP26 climate talks has called on world leaders to learn from the pandemic and build a new world order by fighting the climate change crisis as one would a global conflict.
"The wounds inflicted on our human family by the COVID-19 pandemic and the phenomenon of climate change are comparable to those resulting from a global conflict," he said November 2 in a message to the U.N. COP26 climate talks read in Glasgow by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
"Today, as in the aftermath of the Second World War, the international community as a whole needs to set as a priority the implementation of collegial, solidary and farsighted actions," he said.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin delivers the pope's message
The pope pointed out that our post-pandemic world will necessarily be different from what it was before the pandemic. "It is that world which we must now build, together, starting from the recognition of past mistakes."
He said COVID-19 has brought immense tragedies in its wake, but it has also taught us that, if we are to succeed in overcoming the pandemic, all of us must play a part in responding to this challenge. "And that, as we know, calls for profound solidarity and fraternal cooperation between the world's peoples," he said.
Hence, the conference has the important task of showing the entire international community to honestly, responsibly and courageously allocate more human, financial and technological resources to mitigate the negative effects of climate change as well as to help the poorest and most vulnerable populations, who suffer the most from this phenomenon.
"There is no alternative. We can achieve the goals set by the Paris Agreement only if we act in a coordinated and responsible way. Those goals are ambitious, and they can no longer be deferred. Today it is up to you to take the necessary decisions," said Cardinal Parolin, on behalf of the pope.
Addressing those attending the climate conference he said particular attention should be paid to the most vulnerable populations, to whom an "ecological debt" has accrued and special care must be given to the most vulnerable populations.
"The "ecological debt" raises in some ways the issue of foreign debt, the burden of which often hinders the development of peoples.
"The post-pandemic world can and must restart from a consideration of all these aspects, along with the setting in place of carefully negotiated procedures for forgiving foreign debt, linked to a more sustainable and just economic restructuring aimed at meeting the climate emergency," he said.
The pope had praise for young people "who in recent years have strongly urged us to act, will only inherit the planet we choose to leave to them, based on the concrete choices we make today".
Hence, "Now is the moment for decisions that can provide them with reasons for hope and trust in the future," Francis said in his message.
Pope Francis: "I accompany you"
Pope Francis, 84, was expected to attend the conference in Glasgow but the Vatican at the last moment announced without giving any reason that the pope would not be going.
He sent his regrets for not attending the conference, saying in his message, "I had hoped to be with you in person in Glasgow, Scotland, but that was not possible."
However, "I accompany you, however, with my prayers as you take these important decisions," he said in his message.
Cardinal Parolin was one of more than 50 speakers, most of whom were heads of state or government leaders.
They delivered a three-minute "national statement" during the high-level segment of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change October 31-November 2.
The high-level segment will resume November 9-10, and negotiations will close November 12.
Pope Francis has often spoken about the climate crisis and in 2015 published an encyclical Laudato si' subtitled "On Care for our Common Home."
Earlier in October, the pope gathered religious leaders and scientists from across the world at the Vatican to sign a joint appeal calling on COP26 participants to act in a more responsible and consistent manner toward a "culture of care" for our common home, and to work tirelessly to eliminate "the seeds of conflicts," including greed, indifference, ignorance, fear, injustice, insecurity and violence.
Pope Francis had called on world leaders to respond to crises facing humankind with vision and radical decisions and not to waste opportunities that today's challenges present.
"Climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic have exposed our deep vulnerability and raised numerous doubts and concerns about our economic systems and the way we organize our societies," the pope said in a message recorded at the Vatican for BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, as world leaders were prepare to meet in Glasgow for the UN COP26 Climate Change Conference.
Click hear to read the full text of the pope's message.
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