“We must be present to listen to the cries of those who suffer from the environmental impacts of this model and of the land they inhabit.”
On Thursday, November 27th, 2024, Martha Inés Romero, Pax Christi International Secretary-General, participated in an online discussion organised by the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM) on the urgent need for integral ecology to confront the climate crisis and care for our Common Home.
The event began with a speech by Father Pedro Brassesco, Assistant Secretary General of CELAM, who presented the greetings of the institution and reflected on the opportunities presented by Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum.
Martha Inés Romero opened the dialogue, highlighting the importance of the Latin American Ecclesial Assembly as a path for Synod methodologies. In that sense, the encyclical Laudate Deum not only offers spiritual guidance, but also a route to confront the climate crisis, starting with an ecological and spiritual conversion and a change of attitude in the ecclesial environment.
Awareness and listening to those affected is key to move into action. While intergovernmental conferences such as COP16 Cali and COP29 Azerbaijan have allowed for some progress, it is now necessary overcome the logic of events and move towards the logic of processes to continue moving forward in concrete steps.
Then, permanent deacon Alirio Cáceres Aguirre, member of the Commission for Integral Ecology of Latin America and the Caribbean (CEILA), stressed the importance of the active participation of lay people in decision-making spaces such as the international summits of the United Nations.
Sister Laura Vicuña, vice president of the Ecclesiastical Conference of the Amazon (CEAMA), outlined the difficult situation facing this region including extreme drought, communities displacement and the lack of basic resources. She warned:
“There is no plan B, if we do not take care of the Earth, the Earth will not take care of us.”
Lastly, Father Fernando Roca Alcázar, a Jesuit priest and advisor to CEAMA, closed the dialogue, presenting the key points proposed by Pope Francis in the encyclical Laudate Deum. Science and technology should be integrated and put at the service of others from a human and environmental perspective, instead of being diverted by economic interests.
Read more (in Spanish)
Watch the webinar recording (in Spanish)
