At the meeting, participants would like to sign a joint appeal for the upcoming UN Climate Conference Cop26 in Glasgow in November. The pope will then personally present Cop26 president Alok Sharma and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Monday, the Vatican announced on Friday evening.

Exchange on climate and environmental issues

Therefore the initiative for the convention comes from the British and Italian Embassies in the Holy See. Monthly virtual meetings have been held since the beginning of the year, in which religious representatives and scientists exchange views on climate and environmental issues. This resulted in a joint appeal in accordance with the Vatican’s declaration.

There will be a closed session for the Holy See at the Italian Embassy on Monday afternoon, after the distribution of the official signature and appeal. Potsdam climate researcher Hans Joachim Schellnhuber also wants to participate.

“Earth and the cries of the poor”

In early September, Pope Francis called for greater commitment to climate protection for the first time in a joint appeal with Orthodox Patriarch Bartolomeo I and Anglican Primate Justin Welby. Church leaders have criticized the actions taken so far that have led to loss of biodiversity, environmental pollution and climate change.

So everyone – regardless of faith and worldview – must listen to the “cry of the earth and the poor”, reconsider one’s own actions and make meaningful sacrifices for the God-given earth.

Is Pope Francis Coming to Glasgow?

For some time there has been speculation about Francis’ visit to the 26th Conference of Member States of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, “Conference of the Parties” – Cop 26 – in Glasgow. His visit has already been announced by the Scottish Episcopal Conference, with no confirmation from the Vatican yet.