New Zealanders and people from Pacific Island nations were among representatives from all over the world attending the International Conference ‘Saving our Common Home and the Future of Life on Earth’ at the Vatican, 5‒6 July, to commemorate Pope Francis’ encyclical, Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home.

The conference was attended by faith leaders, youth activists, leading scientists, frontline community representatives and senior political figures.

At the conference Pope Francis said, ‘We all know much still needs to be done to implement the Paris Agreement. All governments should strive to honour the commitments made in Paris, to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

He reiterated Pope St John Paul’s calls for an ecological conversion, and emphasised the role of religions, and especially Christianity, in working to that end. The pope stressed the importance of making space for young people and indigenous peoples in efforts ‘to foster an integral ecology’.

Pope Francis said, ‘Despite the presence of special interests that make those efforts seem arduous, please continue to work for the radical change which present circumstances require. For injustice is not invincible.’

The Global Climate Action Summit is in San Francisco, CA, 12‒14 September 2018. (globalclimateactionsummit.org/)

Source: Vatican News

Published in WelCom August 2018