Among them were cardinals, bishops and church leaders, seeking ‘common ground in caring for the common good’.
On Saturday, 15 November 2025, thousands took to the streets of Belém, home of COP30, for the People’s March, walking to shout to the world the need for conversion, for change at all levels.
The march is an expression of those who ‘disagree with what is happening within COP because, despite being in Brazil, many peoples feel excluded, not participating in their own ecosystem, which is the Amazon,’ denounced one of the world’s most important indigenous leaders, the vice-president of the Ecclesial Conference of the Amazon, member of the Kichwa people of Sarayaku (Ecuador), Patricia Gualinga.
The fact that COP30 is being held in the Amazon has great significance for the Catholic Church, given that “six years ago Pope Francis summoned the Amazon to Rome, and now the United Nations is summoning the world to the Amazon. A return that connects the peoples of the world to care for something that is fundamental to the systemic and climatic balance of the planet,” according to Brother João Gutemberg, executive secretary of the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network (Repam).
The Churches of the Global South believe that what is being discussed at the COP ‘concerns all of humanity, especially the poor and vulnerable,’ according to Cardinal Felipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and President of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences.
Participating in COP30 and the People’s March ‘is an opportunity to join other defenders of the environment,’ according to Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David, bishop of Kalookan (Philippines). He emphasised that ‘we are surrounded by people who truly care about the integrity of creation,’ adding, ‘People here may have different reasons for defending the environment, for joining the community, but the important thing is that we find our points of convergence together, which is our care for the common good.’
Source: AgenSir
