Pope Francis: there is no time for indifference on climate change

The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, gave a speech on behalf of Pope Francis at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, also known as COP29, which is taking place these days in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan. .

At the beginning of the message read before the political leaders and authorities of various countries, Pope Francis hoped that this meeting “will have success in demonstrating that there is an international community willing to look beyond particularisms and put at the center the good of humanity and our common home, which God has entrusted to our care and responsibility.”

“One of the most urgent issues of our time”

He warned in this sense that “the scientific data we have does not allow further delays and makes it clear that the preservation of creation is one of the most urgent issues of our time.” This issue is also, according to the Pontiff, closely interrelated with the preservation of peace.

Pope Francis also referred to the context in which this conference takes place, citing the “dangerous tendencies of building walls,” which he described as selfishness that “feeds a climate of mistrust and division.”

Likewise, he regretted that “the Economic development has not reduced inequality”, but on the contrary “has favored the prioritization of profit and particular interests at the expense of the protection of the weakest and has contributed to the progressive worsening of environmental problems.”

To reverse this trend, the Holy Father stressed that it is necessary to “understand that the harmful consequences of lifestyles affect everyone” and therefore urged to achieve a “New Collective Quantified Objective in Climate Finance, one of the most urgent of this conference”.

This is a financial objective, approved in the Paris summit 2015, whose purpose is to support developing countries in their climate actions.

The Pope asks for solutions for countries “burdened with suffocating economic debts”

He then stressed that solutions must be found especially for countries that are already “burdened with suffocating economic debts”, while recalling that ecological debt and external debt “are two sides of the same coin”, since they “mortgage the future.”

Cardinal Pietro Parolin cited the call made by the Holy Father linked to the Jubilee Year of 2025 through the bull Hope does not disappoint in which he asked the wealthiest nations “to recognize the seriousness of so many of their past decisions and determine to forgive the debts of countries that will never be able to repay them.”

In the aforementioned document, the Pontiff reiterated that this is a “question of justice,” highlighting that there is a true “ecological debt,” particularly between the global north and south, linked to trade imbalances “with effects on the environment.” and the disproportionate use of natural resources.”

In this way, he insisted that it is essential to seek “a new international financial architecture” centered on human beings and that can respect the dignity of all countries, “especially the poorest and those most vulnerable to climate disasters.”

In his message addressed to the participants in COP29, Pope Francis also appealed to political will to direct resources “towards this noble objective for the common good of humanity, today and tomorrow.”

Later, he stated that we must recover “our hope in the capacity of humanity” and reiterated the dedication and support of the Holy See in this endeavor.

“Indifference is complicit in injustice”

He insisted that “we cannot pass by and look the other way,” and warned that “indifference is complicit in injustice.”

“What can I do? How can I contribute? Today there is no time for indifference. We cannot wash our hands, with distance, with carelessness, with disinterest. “This is the true challenge of our century,” he continued.

In conclusion, Cardinal Parolin assured his support and that of the Holy Father “to provide effective service to humanity, so that we can all assume the responsibility of safeguarding not only our future, but that of all.”