Two important milestones mark the path of the Church towards Cop 30 this Tuesday, July 1. The first of them is the presentation of the document “a call for climate justice and the common house: ecological conversion, transformation and resistance to false solutions” to Pope Leo XIV. At the Audience held at the Apostolic Palace, Cardinals Jaime Spengler, President of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) were present; Felipe Neri Ferrao, president of the Federation of Episcopal Conferences of Asia (FABC); and Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM). Prepared by the three Confederations with the support of experts since 2024, the document seeks to address the climatic crisis from a pastoral and prophetic perspective. Cáritas Latin America and the Caribbean actively participated in this whole process, through its incidence coordination.
Download The document in Spanish, Portuguese and English.
A Pastoral Cry
During the press conference, the cardinals emphasized their role: “We are not here as experts or politicians, but as shepherds; we ask for a conversion of the heart,” they said.
Dr. Emilce Cuda thanked the cardinals for their effort, highlighting that they, just like the Magi, offer three gifts:
a renewed faith in God and a firm confidence in humanity; the outcry for a new environmental justice as the highest form of charity; and the certainty that hope does not disappoint.
Cuda stated that the PCAL took on this initiative in response to a call from Pope Francis in June 2024 to “build bridges of reconciliation, inclusion, and fraternity.” The presentation of this document adds to previous actions, such as the campaign “Life Hangs by a Thread,” launched in December 2024 to defend environmental leaders.
Proclaiming Boldly and Dismantling False Solutions
When asked about the possible participation of Pope Leo XIV at COP30 in Belém do Pará (Brazil), Cardinal Jaime Spengler confirmed that they had requested his presence and that the Brazilian government had extended an official invitation.
Cardinal Spengler underscored the importance of making courageous decisions and “prophetically announcing what we must do without fear.” He emphasized that the document is the result of a “synodal process, a spiritual and communal discernment among sister Churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean,” and was used in the bilateral dialogues at the Bonn Conference as an advocacy tool.
The message is clear: “There is no climate justice without ecological conversion, and there is no ecological conversion without resistance to false solutions.” He urged the dismantling of interests hidden under terms such as “green capitalism” and “transition economy,” which perpetuate extractivist logics.
In his remarks (available in full at the end—click to download the file), Spengler mentioned the Catholic organizations that participated in the process, including CEAMA, Caritas Internationalis, Caritas Latin America and the Caribbean, Caritas Brazil, REPAM, among others. He also highlighted the significant ecumenical path undertaken and a joint call to action with Christian Aid, ACT Alliance, the Lutheran World Federation, and the World Council of Churches, among others.
We wish to publicly thank the many people who, in various ways, have collaborated with this proactive initiative in preparation for COP30.
A Pastoral Message that Demands a Change of Heart
Cardinal Felipe Neri expressed the hope that other episcopal conferences would join this call for climate justice. For now, “the continents of the Global South have undertaken this journey.” He stressed that “our message today is not diplomatic: it is pastoral,” a call to conscience in the face of a system that threatens creation. He lamented that “soulless” mining persists in the name of “green batteries,” and urged the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund. He insisted on the need to recognize the ancestral wisdom of communities and to stop the expansion of fossil fuels.
For his part, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu welcomed Pope Leo XIV’s openness to socio-environmental issues, affirming that the Pontiff follows “the same ecological path as Francis.” “Africa is not a poor continent. It is a plundered continent,” he stated, giving voice to a people victimized by the “fever for lithium, cobalt, and nickel.”
Cardinal Ambongo proposed a transformation that places at the center the care for life, the sovereignty of Indigenous and rural peoples, and the defense of the rights of women, climate migrants, and future generations. He concluded with a powerful declaration: “The time of indifference is over.”
We invite you to watch the full press conference and learn more about the content presented.
Text translated from https://caritaslatinoamerica.org | See the original article here.
