Church highlights moral urgency of climate action as it mobilizes for COP30 in Brazil
As the Church marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’s landmark encyclical Laudato Si’, its message of care for creation is taking center stage at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. The Vatican delegation has arrived with a strong sense of purpose, seeking to remind world leaders that protecting the planet is not only a political obligation but also a moral one.
Held in the Amazonian state of Pará, COP30 has drawn global attention as governments, scientists, and civil society leaders gather to chart a path toward stronger climate commitments. The Catholic Church has sent an influential contingent, including eight cardinals, 47 bishops, and thousands of priests, nuns, and lay representatives from around the world. Their goal is to transform Laudato Si’’s call for environmental stewardship into tangible advocacy for policies that protect both people and the planet.
The main conference, which runs from November 10 to 21, follows a high-level Climate Summit held earlier this week, where world leaders met to discuss the global progress of the Paris Agreement. During that session, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, read a message from Pope Leo XIV urging governments to act with greater courage and speed.
“We must turn words and reflections into choices and actions rooted in responsibility, justice, and equity,” Pope Leo’s message declared. He called on nations to “courageously accelerate the implementation of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,” reminding delegates that environmental action must be guided by compassion and a shared sense of duty to future generations.
The Paris Agreement, signed a decade ago, requires countries to set and regularly update their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the realities of climate change. However, most countries have failed to submit updated plans for 2025, missing deadlines set earlier this year. Climate analysts warn that global warming is accelerating faster than expected, and current pledges fall far short of keeping the temperature rise within safe limits.
Pope Leo XIV’s message went beyond policy, framing the climate crisis as a profound moral challenge. “The ecological crisis is a moral issue,” he stated, calling on nations to share responsibility for fostering a natural and social environment that is both peaceful and healthy.
For the Church, COP30 is more than another global summit. It is an opportunity to embody the spirit of Laudato Si’, to stand in solidarity with those most affected by climate change, and to remind the world that caring for creation is an act of faith as much as it is a necessity for survival.
