Belem: Pope Leo XIV addressed religious dignitaries on the sidelines of the COP30 summit, emphasizing the need for “concrete actions” on climate change and criticizing the lack of political will among some leaders. The Vatican released the American pope’s address to churches of the southern hemisphere, highlighting the Amazon region as “a living symbol of creation with an urgent need for care.”
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Pope Leo XIV stated that “creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat,” affecting one in three people who live in great vulnerability due to these climate changes. He stressed that ignoring these people is akin to denying shared humanity, attributing the issue to the lack of political will.
As the UN climate negotiations enter their final stretch, nations remain divided on key issues, with government ministers arriving to take over negotiations. Pope Leo XIV warned that there is still time to keep the rise in global temperature below 1.5C, but the window is closing. He championed the landmark Paris Agreement, calling it the “strongest tool for protecting people and the planet” while lamenting the insufficient efforts by some leaders.
The historic 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit temperature rises to “well below” 2C compared to pre-industrial levels and, if possible, to 1.5C. Pope Leo XIV urged for firmer climate action to foster “stronger and fairer economic systems” and called for nations to send a clear global signal of unwavering solidarity behind the Paris Agreement and climate cooperation.
Since becoming pope in May, the Chicago-born pontiff, who spent about 20 years as a missionary in Peru, has consistently urged for increased governmental pressure to combat climate change. Last month, he called for an “ecological conversion” during a climate conference near Rome to aid vulnerable communities.
October marked the 10-year anniversary of the late Pope Francis’s landmark climate manifesto “Laudato Si,” which appealed for action on human-caused global warming. COP30, without the presence of the US government, is scheduled to conclude in five days, with ongoing disagreements among countries on issues such as climate ambition, unilateral trade measures, and finance. Some nations are also advocating for a roadmap to phase out fossil fuels.
UN climate chief Simon Stiell welcomed Pope Leo’s “strong message,” urging continued hope and action.