BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 13. I reiterate the dedication and support of the Holy See, especially in the field of integral ecology education, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See, as he delivered his national statement during the COP29 summit in Baku, Trend reports.
Parolin called for affluent nations to “acknowledge the gravity of so many of their past decisions” and urged them to consider debt forgiveness for heavily indebted countries that may never be able to repay.
“This is more than a question of generosity; this is a matter of justice,” Parolin stated, emphasizing that the call to action comes directly from Pope Francis in anticipation of the Holy Year Jubilee of 2025.
"Efforts should be made in particular to find solutions that do not further undermine the development and adaptive capacity of many countries that are already burdened with crippling economic debt," he said, describing economic and ecological debt as “two sides of the same coin,” highlighting that historical commercial imbalances have led to environmental strain, disproportionately affecting the global South.
The Cardinal further called for a reimagined international financial system, one that is “human-centered, bold, creative, and based on the principles of equity, justice, and solidarity.” This new architecture, he argued, should enable all countries, especially those most vulnerable to climate impacts, to pursue sustainable, low-carbon development pathways that emphasize resource sharing.
In closing, Parolin reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to “integral ecology education” and raising awareness about the environmental crisis as both a human and social issue. He called on all nations to take shared responsibility for protecting “not only our own future, but that of all.”