"Pope Francis issued a stark reminder about the effects of climate change on Wednesday, warning that "the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point....No one can ignore the fact that in recent years we have witnessed extremeweather phenomena, frequent periods of unusual heat, drought and other cries of protest on the part of the earth that are only a few palpable expressions of a silent disease that affects everyone," the letter added."
The pope's Laudate Deum letter seeks to contextualize the state of play in 2023 when it comes to climate change and the energy transition.
"Despite all attempts to deny, conceal, gloss over or relativize the issue, the signs of climate change are here and increasingly evident," Pope Francis says.
The pope expressed hope that those participating in the conferencewill be "strategists capable of considering the common good and the future of their children, more than the short-term interests of certain countries or businesses," and that the summit will lead to "binding forms of energy transition that meet three conditions: that they be efficient, obligatory and readily monitored."
He also argued that the current transition towards clean energy sources and the abandonment of fossil fuels is not advancing at the "necessary speed" and that "whatever is being done risks being seen only as a ploy to distract attention." MS