Vatican, British government join in pledge to fight poverty, climate change

September 18, 2010

After a “working dinner” on September 17, leading officials of the Holy See and the British government issued a joint statement calling for more action to address world poverty and climate change.

A joint communiqué issued after the meeting said that “more needs to be done to address the unnecessary suffering caused by hunger, diseases and illiteracy.” The statement also called for “the promotion of the right to life, food, health and development for all.”

The communiqué also expressed a mutual conviction that there is an urgent need “to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” and switch to a "low-carbon economy," in response to the threat of climate change.

The Friday-evening discussions involved Vatican officials who had accompanied Pope Benedict on his trip to Britain and their counterparts in that nation’s government. (Pope Benedict himself did not take part in the meeting.) The Vatican delegation was led by Cardinal Tarscisio Bertone, the Secretary of State. Foreign minister William Hague was the top British official present.

 

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Further information:

• Shared commitments of Holy See and British government (VIS)
• Communiqué following the working dinner between HM Government and the Papal Delegation (Vatican Radio)