With the start of the International Meeting of the Mining Divestment Platform in Rome, various ecclesial organizations and faith communities have gathered to consolidate strategies to protect our Common Home against extractivism. This coordination space seeks to strengthen the commitment of Catholic institutions toward divestment from metallic mining, responding to the cry of territories suffering the consequences of this activity.
This meeting marks a milestone in the global campaign urging Church institutions to withdraw their investments from metallic mining, emphasizing that divestment is an ethical imperative and a concrete response to the call of the encyclical Laudato Si’. Delegates from various international networks are participating in these sessions to outline a roadmap that prioritizes life over extractive profit.
🔗 More information on the start of the meeting
🎥 Watch the full recording of the press conference held this March 20 from the Holy See Press Office here:
In this context, a strategic dialogue was held between representatives of the Churches and Mining Network and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. The central objective was to identify mechanisms to strengthen and listen to local churches that are more isolated and facing acute socio-environmental conflicts. During the meeting, testimonies were shared about communities suffering persecution and irreversible damage to their territories due to large-scale mining.
For its part, the Dicastery emphasized the importance of close ecclesial accompaniment that not only denounces injustices but also provides protection and visibility to those defending life under vulnerable conditions. The need to build direct bridges between grassroots organizations and the Holy See was highlighted, ensuring that the voices of the most affected communities are heard in global decision-making spaces.
🔗 More information on the dialogue with the Dicastery
