"Global Call for Religious Unity to Combat Environmental Devastation"

Pope Francis, in a video message at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, called for all world religions to unite against the "rapacious" devastation of the environment. Urging religions to act urgently, he emphasized the need to educate members on sober and fraternal lifestyles, oppose wastefulness, and promote contemplation of nature's grandeur. The Pope reiterated his call for the elimination of fossil fuels, but a Reuters investigation found that no diocese in the United States, where a quarter of the population is Catholic, has divested from fossil fuel assets. Francis also highlighted the interdependence of peace and stewardship of the planet, noting how conflicts harm the environment and hinder collective efforts to protect it.