Each of our Catholic Schools were given a tree by Bishop David and the NORES team, to plant in their school to commemorate COP26.
The COP26 summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Pope Francis had been due to attend the summit but has now announced that he will send the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin. The Pope has recently undergone colon surgery and it is thought this is the reason for this change in his schedule.
As our schools gathered for their annual diocesan schools Mass in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Dunstable, Bishop blessed the infant trees urging the students to recognise the tree’s as a metaphor, saying
“Trees must be given the space and the freedom to grow, just as our Church must be the space and freedom to grow. We must be a people who appreciate creation and look after it”
Governments agree that the world is warming and collective action is now required to save the planet. The meeting in Glasgow from 31 October to 12 November could lead to major changes to our everyday lives.
Bishop John Arnold, Lead Bishop for Environmental Issues, has joined Catholic leaders from the G20 Countries in calling for fossil fuels to be consigned to history.