Pope Francis has released his message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation which will be observed on September 1, with the theme “Listen to the voice of creation.”
In his message, the Pope turns his focus to the COP27 climate conference to be held in Egypt in November, as well as the COP15 biodiversity summit in Canada in December, reiterating the Holy See's call for nations to take more ambitious steps in the fight against climate change.
CARD. MICHAEL CZERNY
Prefect, Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development
The Holy See helps everyone to get to a better position and I'm sure that's what we will be doing at the COPs as well, but we don't go with an advocacy plan. So in that sense it depends on what the priorities are at the meetings to see where we can be of help.
In presenting the Pope's message, Cardinal Michael Czerny discussed the significance of Catholic organizations divesting from fossil fuel corporations.
CARD. MICHAEL CZERNY
Prefect, Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development
There is quite a lot of consensus for divesting, because divesting is not only a financial decision, a decision that's internal, but it is also a form of advocacy.
We need facts, in other words, it is not enough to say we are investing because we want to play a role, we'd like to see what role is in fact being played and what results are there, otherwise in conscious one should divest.
The World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation was originally inspired by Orthodox Christian Community, and adopted by Pope Francis in 2015.
In this year's message he calls for nations to work towards four principles: biodiversity, conservationism, global solidarity, and supporting those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
JM
