Francesco's gaze

"With money for weapons" we can and must "eliminate hunger". And solve the climate crisis. The devastation "of creation is an offense against God". The time is "urgent. Everyone's future depends on the present we choose." Pope Francis, due to bronchitis which forced him to stay in the Vatican, was unable to participate in Cop28, the conference on climate change, which took place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai. This is how Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin read the Pontiff's message, which aims to shake the powerful of the Earth.

We must listen to the moan of the earth and the poor, invokes the bishop of Rome. And he raises the alarm about a "climate gone mad", urging us to stop "the delirium of omnipotence: the ambition to produce and possess has resulted in limitless greed, which has made the environment the object of unbridled exploitation". Jorge Mario Bergoglio asks not to blame the causes of environmental problems on the poor and on births. He invites us not to penalize development, to remit financial and ecological debts.

And it traces the path to a better world. One proposal above all: "With the money used on weapons and other military expenditure we set up a global fund to eliminate hunger." And then, from a political point of view, it is necessary to abandon "particularisms and nationalisms: the way out is a new multilateralism". It is essential to rebuild "trust". This applies "to the care of creation as well as to peace". Francis observes bitterly: «How much energy is humanity wasting in the many ongoing wars, such as in Israel and Palestine, in Ukraine».

Climate change is «a global social problem which is intimately linked to the dignity of human life», he warns, citing the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum. And asks «the question to which we are called to answer now: are we working for a culture of life or death?”. Francis asks «in a heartfelt way: let's choose life, let's choose the future! Let us listen to the groaning of the earth, let us listen to the cries of the poor, let us listen to the hopes of young people and the dreams of children! We have a great responsibility: to ensure that their future is not denied."


Domenico Agasso
NP January 2024