• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • Advertising
  • CR Radio
  • Printing
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Pope Francis greets U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., during a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

Pope meets Pelosi; both speak at legislators’ pre-COP26 meeting

October 9, 2021
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Environment, Feature, News, Vatican, World News

Pope Francis walks with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., accompanied by her husband, Paul, during a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis met privately at the Vatican Oct. 9 with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was in Rome to speak at a meeting of legislators from around the world in preparation for the U.N. climate summit.

The Vatican released photos of Pelosi’s meeting with the pope, but provided no details of the encounter, which took place before Pope Francis addressed the Pre-COP26 Parliamentary Meeting.

Pelosi, a Catholic, said in a statement that it was “a spiritual, personal and official honor” to have an audience with the pope.

“His Holiness’ leadership is a source of joy and hope for Catholics and for all people, challenging each of us to be good stewards of God’s creation, to act on climate, to embrace the refugee, the immigrant and the poor and to recognize the dignity and divinity in everyone,” her statement said.

Because Pelosi supports legalized abortion, her archbishop, Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone of San Francisco, asked “all Catholics and others of goodwill” to join a prayer and fasting campaign for Pelosi’s “conversion.”

“A conversion of heart of the majority of our congressional representatives is needed on this issue, beginning with the leader of the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi,” Archbishop Cordileone said in a statement Sept. 29.

Pope Francis greets U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., during a private audience at the Vatican Oct. 9, 2021. (CNS photo/Vatican Media)

In her keynote address to fellow legislators from around the world meeting in Rome Oct. 8, Pelosi said world governments must take bold action in their own countries and when they meet for COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

“It would be a dereliction of duty for us not to go into the future in a green way and (one) that responds to the urgency of the climate crisis. It’s all about the children,” she said. “We will leave them a world where they can be healthy, where they can thrive and reach their fulfillment.”

In his speech to the parliamentarians Oct. 9, Pope Francis spoke of the “important, and indeed, crucial” role of governments in slowing climate change and restoring a healthy environment.

“This demanding change of direction will require great wisdom, foresight and concern for the common good: in a word, the fundamental virtues of good politics,” he said. “As political leaders and legislators, you are responsible for influencing people’s actions by those means provided by the law, which lays down rules for admissible conduct in the light of the common good, and with respect for such other fundamental principles as the dignity of the human person, solidarity and subsidiarity.”

“Care for our common home naturally falls within the scope of these principles,” the pope said. “To be sure, it is not just a matter of discouraging and penalizing improper practices, but also, and above all, of concretely encouraging new paths to pursue, paths better suited to the objectives we seek to achieve. These are essential elements to be considered as we strive to meet the goals set out in the Paris Agreement and to contribute to the positive outcome of COP26.”

Pope Francis also gave the parliamentarians copies of the appeal he and other religious leaders signed at the Vatican Oct. 4 calling on world leaders and all people of good will to make a more serious commitment to protecting creation.

The challenge, he said, “is complex and demanding, but humanity has the means to effect this change, which calls for genuine conversion and a steadfast determination to meet it. This is especially incumbent upon those called to positions of great responsibility in the various sectors of society.”

Also see

Saints’ lives prove God’s love for all, pope says at canonization Mass

Cardinal Zen says he’s fine; detentions provoke outcry

Vatican confirms pope will visit Indigenous in Canada in late July

Declining birthrates impoverish future, pope says

Immigration reform cannot be delayed, pope says in message

Pope tells grandparents to leave grandkids their legacy of wisdom

Copyright © 2021 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

Latest Local News

At Baltimore Basilica, Cardinal Sarah says holiness is possible

Archbishop William Lori announces clerical appointments, including two new pastors

St. Mary’s Seminary charters its first Knights of Columbus council – named after alumnus who founded the Knights

Former Harford County priest sentenced to 22 years in prison

Journey to the priesthood in Baltimore: 9 to be ordained transitional deacons

Latest World News

Bishops express sorrow, condemn racially motivated shooting in Buffalo

Saints’ lives prove God’s love for all, pope says at canonization Mass

Cardinal Zen says he’s fine; detentions provoke outcry

Vatican confirms pope will visit Indigenous in Canada in late July

Archbishop Lori among bishops telling Congress to protect women and children, ‘stop pushing abortion’

Catholic Review Radio

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • At Baltimore Basilica, Cardinal Sarah says holiness is possible
  • Bishops express sorrow, condemn racially motivated shooting in Buffalo
  • Saints’ lives prove God’s love for all, pope says at canonization Mass
  • When St. Bernadette’s relics came to Baltimore
  • Archbishop William Lori announces clerical appointments, including two new pastors
  • Cardinal Zen says he’s fine; detentions provoke outcry
  • St. Mary’s Seminary charters its first Knights of Columbus council – named after alumnus who founded the Knights
  • Vatican confirms pope will visit Indigenous in Canada in late July
  • Archbishop Lori among bishops telling Congress to protect women and children, ‘stop pushing abortion’

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2022 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED