Media CenterCRS: Laudate Deum Calls for Collective Action on the Climate Crisis, Surpassing Borders in Pope Francis' Deeply Catholic Message

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Nikki Gamer
Catholic Relief Services
[email protected]
(978) 884-0003
 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Oct. 4, 2023 – Catholic Relief Services (CRS), the overseas aid agency of the U.S. Catholic bishops, released the following statement in response to Laudate Deum, Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on care for creation that is considered an update to his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’.

“In Laudate Deum, Pope Francis again calls us all to action, highlighting the urgent need to care for our planet as the climate crisis deeply affects our global communities, especially the most vulnerable. At Catholic Relief Services, we stand with those communities facing the harsh impacts of the climate crisis, from deadly droughts to forced migration. This unity drives our push for policies that lessen climate impacts and encourage sustainable development.

In fact, Laudate Deum is fundamentally a rallying cry for the crucial policy work needed to change paths. He invites leaders everywhere to rise above self-interest and imagine a future shaped by the common good. With COP28 on the horizon, world leaders must heed this call. They must listen to developing countries, which are pushing for an operationalized Loss and Damage Fund. They must abandon fossil fuels and invest in a green energy transition. And they must provide more financial support for communities to respond to the effects of climate change. As the Holy Father wisely notes, ‘We must move beyond the mentality of appearing to be concerned but not having the courage needed to produce substantial changes.’

Answering the pope’s call for meaningful transformation, we at CRS aim to build powerful collaborations with U.S. leaders and intertwine the hopeful and borderless message of Laudate Deum into our collective actions. Through our climate change campaign, we are rallying American Catholics and others of goodwill to raise their voices to advance policy change. This work reflects our faith in the power of working together to ensure a just and prosperous future for all. As Pope Francis aptly writes, ‘Everything is connected and No one is saved alone.’"

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Catholic Relief Services is the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. The agency alleviates suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. CRS’ relief and development work is accomplished through programs of emergency response, HIV, health, agriculture, education, microfinance and peacebuilding. For more information, visit www.crs.org or www.crsespanol.org and follow Catholic Relief Services on social media in English at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube; and in Spanish at: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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