By Verghese V Joseph –
On 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis, pilgrims took the first steps on their journey, starting in the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Square to Katowice, a city in southern Poland, Poland, the site of this year’s UN climate talks. That’s 1,500 kilometers (nearly 950 miles) through the cold. St. Francis is Catholics’ patron saint of those who promote ecology and an inspiring figure for many Christians.
The celebrations began at 10:30 am with a blessing from Don Francesco Pesce, Vicar of the Diocese of Rome, an artistic performance from Gruppo Jobel, and greetings from Yeb Saño, the leader of The Climate Pilgrimage. The Climate Pilgrimage walk is a Christian witness to climate justice.
Indian Catholic Matters supports The Global Catholic Climate Movement.
The Climate Pilgrimage shares a message of care for creation along 1,500 kilometres of roads and byways, encouraging communities to address the core message and calls to action in the way that best suits the local contexts.
The India Story
This movement has a direct and significant bearing on India too which went through a difficult phase in August-September this year with rains unrelenting in its fury – lashing its southern, northern and eastern cities, towns and villages; leaving behind a trail of destruction of an unprecedented nature. There has been huge loss of lives, livelihood, property and belongings particularly in the state of Kerala and Kodagu in Karnataka state.
Related reports:
Church Opens its Doors to Rain-Hit Kerala
ICM, Caritas and Other Global Catholic Institutions Unite to Fight Climate Change
Bangalore Archdiocese Flood Relief Services: Lending a Helping Hand
United Action
People of faith from around the world stood united on a pilgrimage for climate justice. Coming from the Philippines, the Pacific Islands, and all across Europe, they stood in solidarity with most vulnerable sisters and brothers.
Their journey is inspired by Laudato Si’, Holy Father Pope Francis’ letter on climate change and ecology. As climate change makes storms rage, deserts grow, and seas rise, people of faith are called to act.
The Climate Pilgrimage is led by Yeb Saño, the former lead climate negotiator for the Philippines. A few years ago, a mega-storm called Typhoon Hayian (or Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines) hit Yeb’s home community. Thousands of people lost their lives. Climate change is making storms like this more and more likely for the Philippines.
Since then, Yeb has devoted every waking moment to securing a safer planet for his neighbours and people like them all around the world. He’s spent months at sea as a witness to environmental destruction, and he’s already walked on one pilgrimage, from Rome to Paris for the Paris climate agreement.
Yeb is joined along the entire 1,500-kilometer route by additional pilgrims from the Philippines. During shorter stretches of road, pilgrims from across central and eastern Europe will join in.
Why Are They Walking?
They are walking from the Vatican to Katowice to raise a prophetic voice for action on climate change. Grounded in the values of Catholic faith, they want to urge leaders to act in courage and love to protect the Earth. Achieving this vision will protect people around the world, especially the most vulnerable.
As pilgrims on the road to care of creation, they are called for an ambitious global rule book that ensures a quick end to the fossil fuel era, a just transition to the clean energy economy and a new practice of integral ecology by individuals and communities.
Tweet your support using the hashtag #TheClimatePilgrimage