Cardinal Parolin delivered the message to leaders in Sharm El-Sheikh on behalf of Pope Francis (Image: UNFCCC)
The Holy See has reminded world leaders at COP27 that "concrete decisions" to tackle the climate crisis "can no longer be postponed".
The message, delivered by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, declared that the presidents and prime ministers gathered at the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh have a "moral duty to act concretely in order to prevent and respond to the always more frequent and severe humanitarian impacts caused by climate change."
The Cardinal, who delivered the message on behalf of Pope Francis, spoke about the importance of education on ways to address the climate crisis and the need to strengthen "the covenant between human beings and the environment".
Cardinal Parolin discussed the message Pope Francis sent to world leaders at COP26 in Glasgow, in which the Holy Father declared that the effects of Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis combined were comparable to "those resulting from a global conflict".
The Vatican Secretary of State warned that leaders must not allow conflicts and tensions between different countries to overshadow efforts in Egypt, warning that "political will should be guided by the awareness that either we win together or we lose together".
Calls from young people for climate action were a theme in the Holy See message, with Cardinal Parolin urging governments to act "especially on behalf of our youth who are looking to us to care for present and future generations".
The Cardinal said:
"This is a time for international and intergenerational solidarity. We need to be responsible, courageous and forward-looking, not just for ourselves but for our children."
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