Environment

Catholic groups at the U.N. climate conference said they were disappointed that, in the meeting’s opening days, few world leaders demonstrated progress in implementing their climate commitments or financial support for countries bearing the brunt of climate change.

Leaders gathered in Egypt for the U.N. climate summit have “a moral obligation” to act seriously and together to safeguard the planet and to offer concrete aid to people suffering the “more frequent and more serious humanitarian impacts caused by climate change,” said Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Baltimore-based Catholic Relief Services is kicking off a campaign to build greater Catholic response to climate change and foster greater awareness of how climate change affects vulnerable communities.

As the Tampa Bay area on Florida’s west coast prepared for what was expected to be a direct hit from Hurricane Ian, Bishop Gregory L. Parkes of St. Petersburg invited all in the diocese to pray to God “for the protection of life and property as we face this serious threat.”

Stressing that listening for God’s call to discipleship is integral to faith, the chairmen of two U.S. bishops’ committees invited people to also listen to the call of the earth during the observance of the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.