(VOVWORLD) - Pope Francis said on Wednesday that he will attend the COP28 climate conference starting next month in Dubai, the first time a pontiff will be at the UN environmental meeting since they began in 1995.
 Pope Francis holds prayer for migrants and refugees, with the 'Angels Unaware' monument, dedicated to the world's migrants and refugees, behind him in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican. (Photo: REUTERS) |
The pope is expected to drive home his recent appeal for action to curb global warming.
“We are still in time to stop it,” Francis said in an interview with Italy’s state-run RAI television, speaking of global warming. “Our future is at stake, the future of our children and our grandchildren. A bit of responsibility is needed.”
Francis, 86, has made protection of the environment one of the hallmarks of his papacy and met last month with COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber.
In a major document on Oct. 4, Francis appealed to climate change deniers and foot-dragging politicians to have a change of heart, saying they cannot gloss over human causes or deride science while the planet “may be nearing the breaking point”.
The Dubai conference runs from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.