Catholic Bishops and Relief Leaders Urge Bold Action at COP30 to Protect Creation
As global leaders prepare to gather in Brazil for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), Catholic bishops and humanitarian leaders have issued a united call for “urgent and courageous action” to defend both the planet and humanity. Their message, signed by Archbishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, and Sean Callahan, president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), urges world leaders to act decisively to protect what they call “our common home.”
The appeal comes as COP30 convenes in the heart of the Amazon, home to the world’s largest rainforest and a vital ecosystem for global climate stability. The timing of the summit coincides with the Jubilee Year of Hope, a sacred moment, as the statement describes, for “restoring relationships and renewing creation” at a time when life itself faces profound threats.
Drawing on Pope Leo XIV’s recent reflections, the bishops echoed his invitation for all nations to “listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor.” They emphasized that environmental degradation and social injustice are deeply interconnected, warning that ignoring one inevitably harms the other. “Communities are being devastated by the loss of biodiversity, climate change, and environmental decline,” they wrote, “and failing to steward God’s creation ignores our responsibility as one human family.”
The statement points to the mounting challenges faced by farmers, fishing communities, and Indigenous Peoples whose lands and livelihoods are under assault from climate-driven disasters and unsustainable development. It also warns that inaction will rob future generations of their right to a livable planet.
Referencing Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, the signatories reaffirmed that the Earth’s climate is a shared good belonging to all people and meant for all generations. “Intergenerational solidarity is not optional,” they stressed, reminding leaders that moral responsibility demands action today to safeguard tomorrow.
The bishops and CRS president called for full and faithful implementation of the Paris Agreement, urging governments to move beyond pledges and deliver tangible results. They highlighted several key priorities: stronger adaptation and mitigation efforts, guaranteed funding for loss and damage, direct access to resources for vulnerable communities, and a just transition that places workers and local communities at the center of sustainability plans.
They also pressed for transparent climate finance and fair debt relief mechanisms, ensuring that developing nations can pursue environmental goals without sacrificing human dignity or social equity. “As all of us are impacted,” the statement reads, “so must we all be responsible for addressing this global challenge.”
The leaders concluded by offering their prayers and solidarity for those most affected by the climate crisis, pledging that the Church and its humanitarian partners will continue to work with global leaders to safeguard creation. Their message is clear: protecting the planet is not merely an environmental duty but a sacred moral calling rooted in faith, justice, and hope.
