Pope Francis scolded first-world nations for their “unbridled exploitation” of the environment, claiming climate change “greatly endangers all human beings” and “time is short” to address the crisis.
The woke pontiff delivered the admonition via a message read on Saturday by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to attendees of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
Per Vatican doctors’ orders, Pope Francis was unable to travel to Dubai personally to speak due to an “inflammation of the lungs.”
(Video: YouTube)
“It has now become clear that the climate change presently taking place stems from the overheating of the planet, caused chiefly by the increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity, which in recent decades has proved unsustainable for the ecosystem,” the pope stated.
The climate has “run amok,” he said, and capitalism is to blame.
“The drive to produce and possess has become an obsession, resulting in an inordinate greed that has made the environment the object of unbridled exploitation,” he said. “The climate, run amok, is crying out to us to halt this illusion of omnipotence. Let us once more recognize our limits, with humility and courage, as the sole path to a life of authentic [fulfillment.]”
“What stands in the way of this?” he asked. “The divisions that presently exist among us.”
“We find ourselves facing firm and even inflexible positions calculated to protect income and business interests, at times justifying this on the basis of what was done in the past, and periodically shifting the responsibility to others,” the pope’s message continued. “Yet the task to which we are called today is not about yesterday, but about tomorrow: a tomorrow that, whether we like it or not, will belong to everyone or else to no one.”
The poor are not to blame for the state of the planet, he argued, “since the almost half of our world that is more needy is responsible for scarcely 10% of toxic emissions, while the gap between the opulent few and the masses of the poor has never been so abysmal.”
It is “the footprint of a few nations” that is “responsible for a deeply troubling ‘ecological debt’ towards many others,” he stated.
And, because of that “debt,” we greedy first-worlders owe the poor financial forgiveness.
“It would only be fair to find suitable means of remitting the financial debts that burden different peoples, not least in light of the ecological debt that they are owed,” according to the pope.
It’s an interesting take, given that the Catholic Church’s net worth is estimated at a staggering $30 billion.
But rather than empty the church of its treasures, Pope Francis would rather we stop arming, say, Israelis as they fight to survive the genocidal lust of their Hamas executioners.
“How much energy is humanity wasting on the numerous wars presently in course, such as those in Israel and Palestine, in Ukraine and in many parts of the world: conflicts that will not solve problems but only increase them!” the pontiff asked. “How many resources are being squandered on weaponry that destroys lives and devastates our common home! Once more I present this proposal: ‘With the money spent on weapons and other military expenditures, let us establish a global fund that can finally put an end to hunger’ and carry out works for the sustainable development of the poorer countries and for combating climate change.”
“His Holiness” then called for a “conversion,” but not to Christianity.
“It is up to this generation to heed the cry of peoples, the young and children, and to lay the foundations of a new multilateralism. Why not begin precisely from our common home?” he suggested. “Climate change signals the need for political change. Let us emerge from the narrowness of self-interest and nationalism; these are approaches belonging to the past. Let us join in embracing an alternative vision: this will help to bring about an ecological conversion, for ‘there are no lasting changes without cultural changes.'”
“The remedy,” he insisted, “is good politics: if an example of concreteness and cohesiveness comes from the top, this will benefit the base, where many people, especially the young, are already dedicated to caring for our common home.”
On X, users called on the Pope to lead by example.
“Him first,” wrote one user. “Turn off all electricity to the Vatican. Burn candles & live without AC or heat. No cars either. He can start housing illegals too.”
“Time for him to put his money where his mouth is,” the user stated. “Until then, he can pound sand.”
Him first. Turn off all electricity to the Vatican. Burn candles & live without AC or heat. No cars either. He can start housing illegals too. Time for him to put his money where his mouth is.
Until then, he can pound sand.https://t.co/skFC3LopA8— Rhonda (@rhondacarlisle9) December 3, 2023
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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