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Caritas Internationalis has launched a Global Year of Action on climate change, to empower individuals and communities to use their voices to address urgent environmental challenges and create a sustainable, socially just future.  The ‘Global Year of Action’ campaign is comprised of a public participation toolkit that empowers individuals and communities to use their voices to address urgent environmental challenges and create a sustainable, socially just future. Participants can also write a digital message sharing how they believe we can care for our common home together. These messages will be collated with other voices around the world and presented to Pope Francis in a booklet, demonstrating the demands placed on leaders and decision-makers to care for our common home together as one. ... Read the press release in full. Visit the 'Together we' website
On Wednesday, 11 October, the Pope received in audience Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates and President-designate of COP28: an important event scheduled to take place in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023
Watch the short video clip of this important meeting In an interview with Vatican Media, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber explained the objectives of COP28 and commented on the contents of Laudate Deum, released the week before his meeting with Pope Francis. Read the interview here In a Statement on 9 October to the UN General Assembly in New York regarding the rights of Indigenous peoples, the Vatican urged UN member states to protect the dignity and rights of Indigenous peoples and to appreciate their contribution to the protection of the environment. The Statement can be read here A report in Vatican news can be read here AUSTRALIA OPPOSES REFERENDUM FOR INDIGENOUS VOICE and CONSTITUTIONAL RECOGNITION read here
While the Season of Creation has come to its conclusion, an exhibition of 24 photos from Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Amazonia, Florida, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Australia, Turkey combined with St. Francis’ prayer, remind us that the work must be ongoing. The photos present a contrast between the beauty and wonder of Creation and the destruction of climate change, both to our environment and to populations around the world. We see in it what Pope Francis has described in Laudate Deum - the inadequacy of responses to climate change and a world near breaking point (LD # 2) as well as "the marvellous concert of all God's creatures" with the world that is our home (LD #67).
The exhibition can be viewed virtually on this website For the duration of the XVI General Assembly of Synod of the Bishops, from 4th to 29th October, the Vatican Press Office is hosting a preview with a selection of 15 photos. May it be a source of inspiration for all the delegates "to hear the cry of earth and the cry of the poor" (LS #49) View the Exhibition trailer.
In Laudate Deum, released today "to all people of good will", Pope Francis shares his heartfelt concerns about the care of our common home. In the years since the publication of Laudato Si' in 2015, the Pope says, "I have realized that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point."
In six chapters Pope Francis points to the human causes of climate change (ch.1), stresses nature is not to be exploited (ch. 2), names the weaknesses in global politics (ch. 3), reflects on the successes and failures of 30 years of climate conferences (ch. 4) shares his hopes for COP28 to be held in November 2023 (ch. 5) and calls on all faith groups to recognise "that human life is incomprehensible and unsustainable without other creatures" , to stop thinking of ourselves as "autonomous, omnipotent and limitless" and to remember that “there are no lasting changes without cultural changes, without a maturing of lifestyles and convictions within societies, and there are no cultural changes without personal changes”. He asks everyone "to accompany this pilgrimage of reconciliation with the world that is our home and to help make it more beautiful, because that commitment has to do with our personal dignity and highest values". (ch. 6). READ: Laudate Deum WATCH: this video introduction VIEW the explanatory graphic 
On 4 October, the feast day of St Francis and conclusion of the Season of Creation, Pope Francis released Laudate Deum meaning “Praise God”, an ecology document following up on his 2015 encyclical, “Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home.”
In its six chapters Laudate Deum calls for a more urgent response to the climate crisis and to address the accelerated climate change evident in the events of the past 8 years -- since the release of Laudato Si' --such as record temperatures, Arctic-Antarctic meltdown, extreme droughts, storms, wildfires, loss of life and damage The launch was live-streamed (5am AEST 5 October). View the video recording below. READ: Laudate Deum online on the Vatican website |