Pope Francis calls on lawmakers to act together on climate change

VATICAN CITY (PA) – Pope Francis on Saturday called on lawmakers around the world to overcome “the narrow limits” of partisan politics to quickly reach consensus on tackling climate change.

The Pope addressed parliamentarians who were in Rome for a preparatory meeting ahead of the annual United Nations climate conference, which begins in Glasgow, Scotland on October 31.

Francis referred to a joint appeal he and other religious leaders signed this week, which calls on governments to commit to ambitious goals at the United Nations conference, which experts see as a crucial opportunity to fight against the threat of global warming.

“To meet this challenge, everyone has a role to play,” François told lawmakers visiting from many countries. “That of political and government leaders is particularly important, if not crucial. “

“This demanding change of leadership will require great wisdom, great foresight and concern for the common good: in short, the fundamental virtues of good policy,” François said.

Francis said in a recent interview that he intended to attend the next UN COP26 conference, but the Vatican announced on Friday that he would not attend and that the Vatican delegation would be led by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

No explanation was given, but the 84-year-old Pope underwent bowel surgery in July. In an interview with the Spanish Bishops’ Conference broadcast last month, Francis said he was back to normal, but he conditioned his presence in Glasgow on his continued recovery.

The Pope expressed hope on Saturday that the efforts of lawmakers ahead of the climate conference and beyond “will be illuminated by the two important principles of responsibility and solidarity”.

“We owe it to young people, to future generations,” he said.

Taking care of the “common home” of humanity, says François, “does not only consist in discouraging and sanctioning abusive practices, but also, and above all, in concretely encouraging new paths to be followed” better suited to the objectives of protection. climate and contributing “to the positive outcome of COP26”.

Prior to his speech, François gave a private audience to Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives.