Pope Francis on Thursday urged world leaders to heed the world’s “chorus of cries of suffering” stemming from climate change, extreme weather and biodiversity loss.
In a message for the World Day of Prayer for the Conservation of Creation, he urged nations to tackle climate change with equal attention to global challenges such as wars and health crises, saying global warming is hurting the poor and indigenous populations the most.
Francis said that rich countries have an “ecological debt” because they are the countries that have caused the most environmental pollution and disrupted the rhythm of nature in the last two centuries.
“Tragically, this sweet song is accompanied by a cry of agony. Even better: a chorus of cries of agony. First of all, our crying sister is Mother Earth. A victim of our consumption excesses, she cries and begs us to end our abuses and her destruction.” he wrote.
Emergency services are responding to bushfires in parts of southern Europe amid severe heat waves this week, prompting warnings that the fight against climate change needs to be stepped up.
The call came just days before the pope left for a trip to Canada, where he would meet the indigenous people of Iqaluit in the Canadian arctic, part of the fastest warming region in North America.
“The poor who are facing the climate crisis are feeling the impact of drought, floods, hurricanes and increasingly intense and frequent heatwaves,” Francis said.
“Likewise, our indigenous peoples’ brothers and sisters are crying out. Because of predatory economic interests, their ancestral lands are invaded and devastated from all sides, causing a shout that goes up to the skies.”
source: Noticias
[author_name]
