Pope to COP30: If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Care for Creation

Pope Leo XIV has called on world leaders attending the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém to take bold and concrete action to protect the planet, warning that the pursuit of peace is inseparable from the duty to care for creation. His message, delivered by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican Secretary of State, urged delegates to see environmental protection as a moral responsibility that demands justice, solidarity, and global cooperation.

“If you want to cultivate peace, care for creation,” Cardinal Parolin told participants, echoing the Pope’s words. He emphasized that safeguarding the environment is not merely a political or scientific issue but a spiritual and ethical imperative central to humanity’s survival.

In his message, the Pope expressed concern that global attention remains fixated on wars and conflicts, while the planet faces an equally serious threat from environmental degradation. He said peace is also endangered by the exploitation of natural resources, the destruction of ecosystems, and the declining quality of life caused by climate change. These challenges, he noted, endanger the lives of all people and require a renewed commitment to international cooperation and shared responsibility.

The Pope urged nations to embrace what he described as “a forward-looking multilateralism” that prioritizes life, human dignity, and the common good. He said the conference should stand as a sign of hope in a world “in flames” due to both global warming and war, reminding leaders that the two crises are closely connected.

Recalling the teaching of Saint John Paul II, Pope Leo stressed that the environmental crisis is not simply a technical or economic problem, but a moral one that tests humanity’s capacity for solidarity. He said states must work together to promote a world that is both socially just and environmentally sustainable.

He warned that the poorest and most vulnerable are suffering the most from climate change, deforestation, and pollution. “Caring for creation is an act of humanity and an expression of solidarity,” he said, calling on nations to transform “words and reflections into choices and actions based on responsibility, justice, and equity.”

Turning to international policy, the Pope said that while the 2015 Paris Agreement marked a milestone in global climate cooperation, much remains to be done. He urged governments to accelerate the implementation of the Paris goals and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, emphasizing that progress cannot be delayed.

Marking the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, he reminded delegates that “climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.” He encouraged participants to undertake an “ecological conversion,” a profound change in mindset and behavior that integrates environmental responsibility into daily life and policy decisions.

The Pope also called for the creation of a new international financial architecture that prioritizes human dignity over profit. Such a system, he said, should empower all nations, especially those most vulnerable to climate disasters, to build resilience and achieve sustainable development. He highlighted the connection between ecological debt and foreign debt, urging wealthy countries to acknowledge and address this imbalance.

In closing, Pope Leo appealed for a renewed commitment to education that promotes integral ecology, helping individuals and communities understand how personal, social, and political choices shape the future of humanity.