In two telegrams signed by Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, Pope Francis expressed his concern for those who have suffered from extreme weather in recent days to the presidents of the Greek and Italian bishops’ conferences respectively. The Pope blessed firefighters and rescue workers, calling on all to “work courageously to meet the challenge of climate change and to protect creation responsibly”.
(Vatican News Network) On the morning of July 28, Pope Francis sent telegrams to Bishop Petros Stefànou, president of the Greek Bishops Conference, and Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, president of the Italian Bishops Conference, to express his spiritual support. Our thoughts are with those affected by the fires, heat waves and floods. Both telegrams were signed by Cardinal Parolin, Secretary of State for the Holy See.
Do more to care for creation
In a telegram sent to the president of the Greek Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Parolin wrote that the Pope is “deeply concerned about the threat to lives and the damage caused by fires throughout Greece and elsewhere”. All this was caused by the heat wave that hit many European countries.
The pope pledged to pray for those affected, asking God to bless the firefighters who are struggling to deal with the urgent crisis. As a result of the current climate crisis, the risks to our common home have increased dramatically, and for this reason, the Pope hoped, “these crises will inspire all to do more to tend to the grace of creation for the well-being of future generations”.
Urgent need to meet the challenge of climate change
In a telegram to the Italian bishops, the Pope asked Card Zupi, president of the Episcopal Conference, to “convey his cordial concern for the people affected by the disaster”. Under the heat wave, floods occurred in northern Italy and fires continued in the south. The Pope stressed the need to “work courageously and far-sightedly to meet the challenge of climate change and to protect creation responsibly”.
At the end of the telegram, the pope begged God to comfort those who are suffering from the consequences of a “serious disaster” and expressed his appreciation “to those who gave their all to rescue, especially the firefighters”.
Link URL: www.vaticannews.cn
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2023-07-29 09:47:26
