Meeting the Pope might seem scary, or challenging for some. For Jacqui Remond however, it was a chance to get down to business.

“It was a life changing experience. We were able to present the Pope with a petition that we recently drafted which calls for bold action on Climate change. The Pope signed the petition and we are calling on one million Catholics to do the same.”

Jacqui, the Director of Catholic Earthcare Australia, represented Australia in a delegation of eight countries who gathered as members of the “Global Catholic Climate movement” early this month. The movement exists to help implement a unified Catholic response to Climate change prevention, an expected element of the Pope’s soon to be released encyclical on the subject.

“This first ever ecological encyclical of the Catholic church will actually provide a great stimulus through conversation, and for transformation into action in the world. It’s for business, governments and humankind on earth. It’s really going to be a unified message for humanity across the globe.” Jacqui said.

Catholic Earthcare Australia, the national representative body for the Global Catholic Climate movement, has been working locally to raise awareness of strategies for Catholic Climate policy.

“We’ve invited Catholics throughout the world to join us for a global carbon fast throughout Lent.” This is all a part of a growing, and increasingly urgent feeling that Catholics must act now to prevent the consequences that climate change is having, especially on the poor.

“At this stage we’re sitting at a time where we have a very narrow buffer zone that’s decreasing as time goes on. It’s very urgent that the world agrees on decreasing fossil fuels and taking action that reduces carbon emissions.”

“We’re pretty lucky in Australia in that we’re the first country to set up our own (Catholic) agency on ecology, and there haven’t been that many who’ve followed suit.”

“We’re pioneering in this regard.”

The encyclical is expected to be released in June or July.

Image: Haaretz.com

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