Below is the full transcript of the interview with Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, Apostolic Nunzio in Brazil and Deputy Head of the Holy See Delegation at COP30:
Q: Your Excellency, the Holy See is present at COP30 in Belém with an official Delegation of 10 people. We have already had the presence of the Cardinal Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, who brought a strong message from the Holy Father and then addressed the Conference, launching an appeal for us to commit, without hesitation, to confronting the challenge of climate change. How is the participation of the Holy See Delegation at this COP30 unfolding?
A: First of all, it is significant to note that the Delegation of the Holy See, led by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, is enriched by the presence of members coming from various institutions of the Holy See and Vatican City State: the Secretariat of State, the Dicastery for Culture and Education, the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, the Dicastery for Communication, the Governorate, the Apostolic Nunciature, together with a local expert. The collaboration of the various members of our Delegation takes concrete form also in the meetings that the Delegation holds not only with the States gathered here, but also with other non-governmental actors, including some from the Catholic Church, among them the 9 Cardinals and 36 Bishops who in Belém bear witness to a broad communion.
What contributions has the Holy See offered to the debates so far?
The Holy See offers to the climate debate, above all, an ethical contribution and a message of human solidarity, founded on the Church’s Magisterium, since the climate crisis is not solely a technical problem but also a moral one. We are called to be guardians of our brothers and sisters, and within that context a moral responsibility is born also toward creation.
For this reason, the Holy See is contributing to the negotiations by recalling the centrality of the dignity of the human person, bestowed by God. At every negotiating table, this approach is manifested through a respectful, constant, and firm invitation to give priority to the “human face of the climate crisis,” as the Holy Father said in his Message for the recent Summit. The Message reminds us that behind the technical dynamics, the acronyms and initials typical of UN negotiations, there are human beings and, above all, innocent communities suffering the effects of the environmental crisis.
In these times marked by tragic conflicts, the Holy See also highlights that care for creation and the pursuit of peace are inseparable, and that war and the destruction of nature mutually fuel one another. I again quote the Message of Pope Leo XIV: “If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation. There is a clear link between peacebuilding and the stewardship of creation: ‘The pursuit of peace by all men and women of good will will certainly be facilitated by a common acknowledgement of the inseparable relationship that exists between God, human beings, and the whole of creation.’”
With this reflection – and in reference to the negotiations on a “Just Transition” – the Holy See has intervened to reaffirm that the progress achieved at COP28 must not be weakened, including the fundamental commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, but must coexist with particular attention to those who are most affected by climate change and by the responses to it.
The Holy See also underlines the importance of fairer financial mechanisms, because the poorest populations are the most vulnerable to climate change, becoming its first victims. Genuine solidarity must animate those financing mechanisms based on fraternity. In this perspective, and particularly in this Jubilee year, the Holy See recalls that the cancellation – and not simply the easing – of sovereign debt, connected with ecological debt, represents a necessary measure to support the most affected countries. This is not only an ethical proposal but a concrete strengthening of the policies indispensable for achieving an authentic “just transition.”
The Holy See is also taking part in the negotiations on a new Gender Action Plan. It does so in the awareness that women and girls are disproportionately affected by climate change, particularly in the Global South, and that they play an important role in addressing its consequences. This central aspect, on which all Delegations should focus their efforts, must never be forgotten in the negotiating process of the Gender Action Plan. Yet there are attempts to use non-consensual or controversial language and concepts which inevitably undermine progress. We can think, for example, of the inclusion in the text of sexual and reproductive rights, which include abortion – something the Holy See cannot in any way accept. This is, in fact, a diversion from the real issue under discussion, such as the participation of women in decision-making and negotiating processes, the promotion of education (including through the media), and support from developed countries to developing countries also within the Gender Action Plan framework. Many women, especially in the Global South, can benefit from what the Action Plan provides, and this is the objective we should look to with a constructive spirit and in good faith, setting aside self-interest.
I would also like to recall that the Holy See is committed to responding to the obligations undertaken with its accession to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to the Paris Agreement. It is well known that the climate-altering emissions of the Vatican City State are infinitesimal at the global level; nonetheless, the Vatican City State invests in substantial emission-reduction projects, as well as engaging with determination in initiatives of education toward integral ecology which, in addition to reducing greenhouse gases, bring ethical and social benefits.
What objectives does the Holy See hope for from this climate-focused event?
First of all, the hope is that COP30 will produce a clear and renewed commitment to multilateralism, an essential platform and dynamic for dialogue, discernment, and addressing current global challenges – including climate change – with openness, trust, and collaboration. These are issues that know no borders and require the serious and responsible contribution of all: Governments and other non-governmental actors gathered here – civil society, the scientific community, local authorities, the business world.
Another desirable outcome would be that COP30 confirms the commitment already adopted in Dubai in 2023 to continue on the path toward achieving the objective of the Paris Agreement, namely limiting the increase in global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This means accelerating actions to improve energy efficiency, the use of low-carbon energy sources, and reforestation efforts. These initiatives must place creation at the centre: people and the environment, not only the economy – without neglecting, of course, greater attention to adaptation and education.
The Holy See also insists that, within the COP, there be increasing attention to education in “integral ecology”, meaning a way of living and thinking that wisely unites environment, society, and economy. The Holy See works with the other Parties so that this approach is ever more present at the various negotiating tables of the COP, including national climate plans. Implementing educational programmes and research projects inspired by integral ecology not only promotes a culture of care and responsibility but also represents a way to engage with local communities and civil society.
The Holy See is always attentive to the protection of people and creation. Is it difficult to defend these rights in such a heterogeneous gathering, with diverse cultures and viewpoints?
What emerges from these intense days of negotiations must be evaluated in the light of the virtue of prudence, while not overlooking positive developments – especially in that dialogue which goes beyond a merely technical-scientific framework, which is fundamental, but which needs to be sustained by a change of paradigm.
Defending the person and creation constitutes a challenge, especially in a context like the COP, where cultures, interests, and differing visions converge. The Holy See wishes to recall that every environmental choice must take place within the Creator’s plan for the human being, and therefore for his or her dignity, freedom, and integral development. Climate policies are not solely technical or economic matters: they affect the concrete lives of our poorest brothers and sisters, who often pay the highest price for the climate crisis.
The Gospel tells us: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5:9). This applies also in the international arena: building bridges between different positions, seeking possible agreements, and maintaining mutual respect represent concrete ways of being peacemakers. The Holy See is committed to bringing to these spaces a voice that unites and that calls all to shared responsibility.
It is an arduous and fascinating task: it is the mission of the Church. Pope Francis, in the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti, evoked the words of Saint John Paul II: “God gave the earth to the whole human race, for the sustenance of all its members, without excluding or privileging anyone.” – Vatican News
