Season of Creation: The Climate Pilgrimage

Walkers setting off for Paris Climate talks

On 3 October, the day before the Feast of St. Francis, pilgrims will take the first steps of a 950-mile journey for climate justice. They are starting at the Vatican and walking to Katowice, Poland, where the United Nations climate talks will be held in December. These talks will cement the next stage in the Paris agreement, and there's a lot up for discussion.

Pilgrims are walking to send the message that Christians around the world want to solve the climate crisis. Coming from the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and across central and Eastern Europe, they are walking in unity to call for action that protects our most vulnerable sisters and brothers. Pilgrims are sleeping on parish floors, camp bunks, and wherever they can find a space.

Recently, we have been reminded why our participation in the Season of Creation is so important. Two major storms - Hurricane Florence and Typhoon Mangkhut have taken precious lives. Typhoon Mangkhut hit the Philippines, where 59 of our most vulnerable of our sisters and brothers died, most of them buried in landslides. Hurricane Florence struck the East Coast of the United States, killing 16 people. Storms like these are likely to be increasingly powerful because of climate change.

On Sunday 16 September Pope Francis tweeted: "Let us deal with climate change through international cooperation. Each person's choices have repercussions on the life of everyone." Pope Francis is lifting his voice for creation. This Season of Creation, Christians around the world are doing the same.

Global Catholic Climate Movement:

https://catholicclimatemovement.global/