Brazil: Addressing the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), Pope Leo XIV has called on world leaders to embrace bold, concrete actions to protect the environment, underscoring the inseparable link between peace and care for the planet.
In a message delivered on his behalf by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, the Pope stressed: “If you want to cultivate peace, care for creation.” The words highlight his conviction that environmental stewardship is not only a moral responsibility but also a foundation for lasting global harmony.
Pope Leo XIV warned that, while global attention often centers on armed conflicts, peace is equally jeopardized by environmental neglect. “The plundering of natural resources and the ongoing decline in life quality due to climate change threaten everyone on Earth,” he said, urging nations to respond with unified, forward-looking multilateralism that prioritizes human dignity, the sacredness of life, and the common good.
“In a world increasingly in flames through both global warming and armed conflicts this Conference should shine as a beacon of hope,” the Pope noted.
Recalling the teachings of Saint John Paul II, Pope Leo emphasized that the ecological crisis is fundamentally a moral issue. Nations, he said, must share responsibility in fostering environments that are peaceful, healthy, and just. He highlighted the disproportionate suffering of the poorest and most vulnerable, asserting that protecting creation is a direct expression of solidarity and humanity.
“We must transform words and reflections into concrete actions grounded in responsibility, justice, and equity,” the Pope urged.
Looking back at the Paris Agreement of 2015, Pope Leo acknowledged the ongoing challenges in achieving its goals. He called for decisive acceleration in the implementation of both the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Marking a decade since Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, he reminded participants that the climate is a shared gift belonging to all and meant to be preserved for all.
“May COP30 participants embrace this ecological conversion with courage, keeping the human face of the climate crisis at the center of their decisions,” he said.
The Pope also proposed the creation of “a human-centered international financial framework” to empower all nations especially those most vulnerable to climate disasters to safeguard their citizens’ dignity. He highlighted the interconnection between ecological debt and foreign debt, calling for economic models that reflect environmental responsibility.
Moreover, Pope Leo encouraged education in integral ecology, helping communities understand how everyday choices personal, familial, and political shape humanity’s collective future.
Concluding his message, Pope Leo XIV urged participants to protect the creation entrusted to humanity by God, linking ecological care directly to peacebuilding. He assured the delegates of his prayers, hoping their decisions would foster a new solidarity that preserves both the environment and human dignity.
“May this ecological conversion inspire lasting action that safeguards creation and upholds the dignity of every person,” he concluded.