On February 15, the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the UN gave an intervention during the Preparatory Meeting for the United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Conserve and sustaintably use the oceans, seas and marine resources). The Preparatory Meeting was dedicated to “Themes for Partnership Dialogues.”

In its statement, the Holy See recalled Pope Francis’ words in the encyclical Laudato Si’ about the core principles necessary to confront effectively various aspects of the present ecological crisis. Among the principles are respect for creation, the common good, the dignity of every human being and justice to each and all. At a practical level, among the partnership dialogues necessary to protect our common home, the Holy See mentioned the importance of those with institutions of a religious or ethical character, meaning faith-based communities and other civic organizations, in order to address the human and ethical degradation that normally accompanies environmental degradation. No valid partner should be excluded from dialogue about our common home.

The statement can be found here.