杏MAP导航

As the Bonn climate conference moves towards its conclusion on Friday, the Vatican鈥檚 foreign minister has urged political and religious leaders, alongside individuals and organisations, to 鈥渕aintain the momentum鈥� on environmental protection.

Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Holy See鈥檚 Secretary for Relations with States, was speaking after an encounter with leaders of, who with 杏MAP导航 Francis on their way to the Bonn conference.

Describing the 2015 Paris agreement as 鈥渘ear miraculous鈥�, Archbishop Gallagher said 鈥淭he international community has rarely come together on an issue like this,鈥� but he added that accord is 鈥渙nly a beginning鈥�.

Impact of 'Laudato Sì'

He talked about the important impact of the pope鈥檚 encyclical 鈥�Laudato Sì鈥� praising the many efforts and initiatives which have taken place since the publication of both the Paris agreement and the papal encyclical. He said there have been 鈥渓iterally thousands of initiatives making the teaching of encyclical known, but also [鈥�] reflecting on the fact that this is part of the church鈥檚 teaching on a much wider issue [...] of integral human development.鈥�

Bigger picture of human development

Stressing the need for the Church to continue to be part of climate change discussions, the Archbishop said 鈥淭his is something in which the Church is engaged because that is what religion is about. The Incarnation is God鈥檚 commitment to humanity and we have to continue that commitment to securing the future of humanity, both spiritually and creating the conditions in which people can aspire to know God, to love God, to live together and love their neighbours鈥�.

Nations and individuals working together

Archbishop Gallagher noted that there are 鈥渄issident voices鈥� but he said the Church is 鈥渓ooking forward to greater commitment both by the state parties鈥�, as well as individuals and organisations.

While the situation is very different in Pacific nations or in industrialised countries, he said, one of the great achievements of the Paris agreement was to bring together not just countries and the Holy See, but also Catholics organisations, dioceses and individuals, working together to reach local areas, 鈥渆ven in countries which are possibly modifying their position towards the agreement鈥�.

Need to change lifestyles

Archbishop Gallagher said the Church will continue to support the 鈥済reat environmental warriors鈥� but it must also 鈥済ive a good example as well, which is not always easy鈥�.

He stressed the importance of lifestyle changes that are 鈥渄emanded of all of us, whether it鈥檚 just giving up using your plastic bags when you go to the supermarket, or modifying some part of your behaviour, recycling or using your car a little less and walking a little more鈥�, all of which can contribute to the work of combating climate change.