Pope Leo XVI urged world leaders to act with urgency on the climate crisis in a video message to bishops and cardinals from the Global South attending the COP30 summit in Brazil. He said the planet is sending unmistakable warnings as extreme weather becomes more severe and more frequent.
“Creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat,” the American pontiff said. He noted that one in three people now lives in conditions of high vulnerability caused by the climate crisis. He reminded Church leaders that they are “stewards of God’s creation” and called for swift, faith-driven action to protect what he described as a divine gift.
The pope stressed there is still a chance to limit global warming to 1.5°C but warned that the opportunity is narrowing. He pointed to the Paris Agreement, approved a decade ago, as the strongest tool available for safeguarding both people and the planet. He added the agreement itself is not failing. “It is not the Agreement that is failing, we are failing in our response,” he said.
He argued that the real obstacle is a lack of commitment from world leaders. “What is failing is the political will of some,” he said, urging governments to embrace leadership based on service rather than short-term interests. He said meaningful support and decisive climate policy would help build fairer economies and more stable societies.
Pope Leo XVI said strong climate action should be seen as an essential investment in the future. “Strong climate actions and policies – both are an investment in a more just and stable world,” he said, as COP30 delegates continued negotiations on emissions, financing and adaptation.
