On Saturday, November 18, 2023, a webinar on Pope Francis’ the Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum was organized by the JPIC OFM General Office and drew participants from all over the world. This webinar was translated into three languages: English, Italian and Spanish. The moderator was Br. Daniel Rodríguez Blanco OFM, director of the General Office of the JPIC OFM.
One image that can help us interpret Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum is that of “a wakeup call.”
Prior to the conclusion of the first week of COP27, the various Catholic environmental organizations and institutions convened for the first time. The Franciscan delegation comprised of OFM-JPIC, Franciscans International, and other Franciscan groups from Africa attended the COP summit. COP27 is the first COP for Catholic players as an official UN Climate Change party (UNFCCC). Since COP24, the Franciscans have constantly participated in gatherings of Catholic actors. Archbishop Nicolas Thevenin, the Apostolic Nuncio to Egypt, led the Vatican delegation that facilitated the meeting.
The Franciscan Delegation, represented by Friar Angelito Andig Cortez, OFM, from the Province of San Pedro Bautista in the Philippines, a member of the OFMJPIC Animation Commission and an active partner of Franciscan International, participated in the annual Talanoa Dialogue at the beginning of COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from November 5 to 18, 2022.
As Catholics, united for our common home, we urgently ask leaders at the United Nations 26th Climate Change Conference to follow Pope Francis’ leadership in reaching a prophetic final agreement.