From Belem, a global synodal voice for ecological conversion

Catholic advocacy at COP30, Belém, Brazil, Credit: CIDSE

Source: CIDSE

Catholic organisations, cardinals, and others present at COP30 and the Peoples' Summit released a statement together on 21 November at the conclusion of COP30, the UN Climate Conference. They invited all Catholics present in Belém to sign, as well as those who were not present but wished to express their solidarity and a common message of hope and commitment to care for our common home. The full statement is below.

Statement of Cardinals, Bishops, and Catholic Organisations gathered for COP30 and the Peoples' Summit in Belém:

From 10-21 November, world leaders, negotiators, peoples' movements, and more travelled to Belém, Brazil, for COP30 and the Peoples' Summit. Among them was an unprecedented diversity of voices from our Church - lay people, religious sisters and brothers, cardinals, bishops, clergy, pastoral movements, youth organisations, non-governmental organisations, and many more - who have sought to amplify what Pope Francis, in Laudato Si', called the "cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor." Moved by what we have experienced through this COP, we offer this statement to all Catholics and people of good will to join us in a renewed commitment and action to care for our common home.

Ten years after the Paris Agreement and Pope Francis's call to protect our common home, the world faces more extreme weather and environmental degradation. Hosting COP30 in Brazil, a country where the Church, Indigenous peoples, and social movements have long walked together in defence of life, further strengthened the hope felt throughout the Catholic community.

Months before COP30, Catholics began expressing their hopes, concerns, and prayers related to this important conference. On June 12, the Catholic Bishops Conferences of Asia, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean published a joint statement entitled, 'A Call for Climate Justice and the Common Home', a powerful appeal for concrete and courageous action from those most affected by the climate crisis. Similarly, Catholic movements and organisations dialogued together, sharing perspectives and supporting one another.

Catholics arrived at COP30 to discover a spirit of true synodality, walking together, unified in God's love for the poor and creation. Sharing our time in meals, conference panels, advocacy, the Peoples' Summit, Masses, and a procession of the Virgem de Nazaré, we encountered a Church ready to speak up alongside people and the planet. We leave with renewed hope, empowered by the witness of the Church and the grace we have experienced together.

In Laudato Si', Pope Francis, boldly grappling with the reality of climate change, called for an "ecological conversion." Pope Leo XIV, in a message to those gathered for COP30, wished that, "all the participants in this COP30, as well as those actively following its work, be inspired to embrace with courage this ecological conversion in thought and actions, bearing in mind the human face of the climate crisis."

As we continue this journey of ecological conversion, we ask for the grace to care more tenderly for creation, to walk in deeper solidarity with one another, and to grow in the courage needed to respond faithfully to the urgent challenges of our time, which affect us all, but especially women, youth, migrants, Indigenous peoples, and the most marginalised. As Pope Leo has just reminded us: "We walk alongside scientists, leaders and pastors of every nation and creed. We are guardians of creation, not rivals for its spoils."

LINKS

Full list of signatories at: www.cidse.org/2025/11/21/a-global-synodal-voice-for-ecological-conversion/

CIDSE Statement: After COP30 - The World Cannot Ignore Belém's Call for Climate Justice www.cidse.org/2025/11/23/after-cop30-the-world-cannot-ignore-belems-call-for-climate-justice/