"We are guardians of creation, not rivals for its spoils," the Pope said. "As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift He entrusted to us."
As the COP30 meeting is set to close this Friday in Brazil, Pope Leo has sent a video message to urge prelates to continue to choose hope over despair.
The COP30 is the 30th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the 1992 UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the parent treaty to the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The Church of Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean have been represented through their respective Cardinals at various side meetings and symposia.
The Holy Father's message lauded them for choosing "hope and action over despair."
The Pope spoke of concrete statistics, with the focus on the human beings who are affected:
One in three people live in great vulnerability because of these climate changes. To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity.
Here is the video and transcript:
I greet the particular Churches of the Global South gathered at the Amazonian Museum of Belém, joining the prophetic voice of my brother Cardinals who have taken part in COP 30, telling the world with words and gestures that the Amazon region remains a living symbol of creation with an urgent need for care.
You chose hope and action over despair, building a global community that works together. This has delivered progress, but not enough. Hope and determination must be renewed, not only in words and aspirations, but also in concrete actions.
The creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat. One in three people live in great vulnerability because of these climate changes. To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity. There is still time to keep the rise in global temperature below 1.5°C, but the window is closing. As stewards of God’s creation, we are called to act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift He entrusted to us.
The Paris Agreement has driven real progress and remains our strongest tool for protecting people and the planet. But we must be honest: it is not the Agreement that is failing, we are failing in our response. What is failing is the political will of some. True leadership means service, and support at a scale that will truly make a difference. Stronger climate actions will create stronger and fairer economic systems. Strong climate actions and policies, both are an investment in a more just and stable world.
We walk alongside scientists, leaders, and pastors of every nation and creed. We are guardians of creation, not rivals for its spoils. Let us send a clear global signal together: nations standing in unwavering solidarity behind the Paris Agreement and behind climate cooperation.
Let this Amazonic Museum be remembered as the space where humanity chose cooperation over division and denial.
And may God bless all of you in your efforts to continue caring for God's creation. In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen
