VATICAN CITY, — Pope Francis called on political and economic leaders on Sunday to have courage and long-term vision after U.N.-led-climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland ended in a compromise on global warming.
Francis addressed the public in St. Peter’s Square and said that the “crying of the poor, joined to the cry of Earth” reverberated in the final days of the United Nations COP26 climate change summit.
He said, “I encourage all who have economic and political responsibilities to act immediately with courage” Francis added, “At the very same time, I invite everyone of goodwill to engage in active citizenry to care about the common house,” referring to planet Earth.
The pontiff did not comment on the outcome the U.N. talks over the past two weeks.
A compromise agreement was reached by nearly 200 countries to keep alive the global warming target. However, the last-minute amendment diluted key language regarding the use of coal as a fossil fuel and the largest single source of greenhouse gases emissions.
Francis made the Earth’s environment an important plank in his pontificate. He dedicated an encyclical or major document to the moral imperative to responsibly protect the planet.
