The Archbishop of Goa, who heads Church in Asia, along with heads of Churches of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean publish a document in the Vatican ahead of the UN climate change conference COP30 in Brazil in November
Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao presented a replica of the Tower of St Augustine at Old Goa to Pope Leo, a member of the Augustinian congregation, in the Vatican on Tuesday.
PANAJI
Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao, has called for climate justice and ecological conversion in the world, emphasising that it is not just a matter of changing policies but also a matter of changing hearts.
“Our message today is not diplomatic, it is pastoral. It is a call to conscience in the face of a system that threatens to devour creation, as if the planet were just another commodity,” said Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão in the Vatican.
He was addressing a news conference after he, along with the presidents of the bishops’ conferences and councils from Asia, Africa and Latin America, and Pontifical Commission for Latin America, referred to as the Global South, published a document calling for climate justice and ecological conversion in light of the UN climate change conference, COP30, which will take place in November in Brazil.
The document titled “A call for climate justice and the common home: ecological conversion, transformation and resistance to false solutions”, was presented on Tuesday during the news conference at the Holy See Press Office.
Speaking further, Cardinal Ferrao said the Church in Asia joins “the global clamour for a transformation that is not only technical, but ethical, prophetic and profoundly human.”
“The document we present is the reflection of a collective discernment, in synodal perspective, and in communion with the Churches of Africa and Latin America. It is not just a matter of changing policies; it is a matter of changing hearts.
“In Asia, millions of people are already living the devastating effects of climate change: typhoons, forced migration, loss of islands, pollution of rivers... Meanwhile, false solutions are advancing: mega infrastructures, displacement for "clean" energy that disregards human dignity, and soulless mining in the name of green batteries.
“In the face of this, the Loss and Damage Fund must be urgently operationalised, and together with the adaptation fund that focuses on building climate-resilience – must guarantee priority access to the affected communities.”
Pope Leo interacts with Archbishop of Goa Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrao along with Cardinal Jaime Spengler (President of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council-CELAM), Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu (President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar), Bishop Lizardo Estrada (Secretary General of CELAM) and Msgr. Joseph Sayer, former president of MISEREOR.
Cardinal Ferrao said it is necessary that the most developed countries recognise and assume their social and ecological debt, as the main historical perpetrators of natural resource extraction and greenhouse gas emissions.
“It is estimated that this climate debt of the Global North will reach $192 trillion by 2050. In addition, it is estimated that approximately two trillion dollars are extracted from the Global South every year, through corporate, banking, and governmental mechanisms. We therefore call for fair and accessible climate finance for local communities and organisations, including women, that does not generate more debt, to ensure resilience in the Global South.”
The cardinal also demanded that the ancestral wisdom of communities be heard.
“Stop the expansion of fossil fuels, expand clean renewable energy solutions in consultation with men and women in local communities, especially decentralised solutions. Rich countries ought to recognise and pay their ecological debt, without continuing to indebt the Global South,” said Cardinal Ferrao.
“Likewise, as a Church, beyond criticism, we want to promote alternatives: educational programmes, new economic pathways based on degrowth, circular economies, ecological spirituality, protection policies, accompaniment of women and girls – the most affected – and strengthening of interreligious networks for the defence of life.”
“We want COP30 to be not just another event, but a moral turning point. And as Pope Leo XIV has said, we need love and unity to "build a new world where peace reigns". May hope flourish among us like a tree of life,” he added.
Others who addressed the news conference were Cardinal Jaime Spengler, Archbishop of Porto Alegre (Brazil), President of the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB) and the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM); Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Archbishop of Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of Congo) and President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM); and Emilce Cuda, Secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
