Catholic leaders from around the world met at the Vatican to issue a joint appeal on climate change. They aim to approve an agreement at the upcoming UN conference in Paris that commits countries to a fair, legally binding climate deal. The Catholic Church believes climate change disproportionately harms the poor and vulnerable. Leaders called for an end to fossil fuels and more investment in renewable energy access for all. They hope the agreement will tie the hands of governments to prioritize the common good over national interests in addressing this urgent issue.

1. Catholic Leaders Appeal
on Climate Change
Steve Virgadamo

2. ❖ Catholic leaders from around the world met yesterday to discuss
climate change and come to a conclusion on what to do!
❖ As we all know climate change is a very sensitive issue and a
very real problem!
❖ The Catholic Church is very much invested in becoming a part of
the solution and aiding where they can!
❖ Catholic leaders also aren’t afraid to speak their mind on the
recent proceedings!
❖ The Church aims to approve a “fair, legally binding and truly
transformational climate agreement” when they all meet at a
United Nations conference in Paris, France sometime next month

3. ❖ The representatives of the Church met in Vatican City to sign
the appeal!
❖ They represented 5 contingents and where all on the same
mission that they said Pope Francis inspired them to push for!
❖ The demands of the Catholic Church are designed to put the
common good ahead of national interests and curtail
environmental destruction and climate change!
❖ The main points of the Catholic Church’s vested interest in
this issue comes at the foundation of social injustice from
around the world as they have compiled solid evidence that
people everywhere are affected by these changes

4. ❖ The Church’s proposal includes putting “an end to the
fossil fuel era” by cutting out the harmful emissions that
loom over cities in towns and darken the skies!
❖ The Church urges the world to allocate their efforts to
research and provide “affordable, reliable and safe
renewable energy access for all.”

5. ❖ Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the Archbishop of Mumbai,
India was quoted at the conference yesterday in saying,
“It’s not a wish or a recommendation but something that
is going to tie the hands of governments, we hope.” !
❖ Cardinal Gracias went on to say that the Church has a
strong duty and there are “ethical considerations” to
confront with a united group!
❖ Cardinal Gracias was extremely pleased that for the first
time in history the Catholic leaders from all regional and
national bishops conferences presented a joint appeal

6. ❖ Catholic leaders from around the world added to the
appeal that their very way of life is being threatened!
❖ Rising oceans, air pollution, and unsanitary conditions
have plagued different regions for far too long and now
is the time for change

7. ❖ Jean-Pascal van Ypersele of the Catholic University of Leuven in
Belgium, a former vice president of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change was also quoted at the conference with his own
thoughts on the urgent matter!
❖ He exclaimed, “It’s very important to have a variety of actors like
the church who take a stance, because the changes that are required
involve much more than decisions at the political and economic
level. They involve a cultural change everywhere around the
planet. The church can be a very important player in that context.”!
❖ Professor van Ypersele went on to address the people most affected
in the world with this touching sentiment, “a common rule is that
the poor are the most vulnerable, while they are also the least
responsible for the greenhouse-gas emissions.”!
❖ He would describe this as a “double injustice”

8. This is our world, our one world, and
things need to change or we are destined for
the same fate

9. Steve Virgadamo
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