Pope Leo’s Video Message for the 10th “Austrian World Summit” – June, 16 2026
(The Austrian World Summit is an annual climate conference taking place in Vienna since 2017)
“Living our vocation to protect God’s handiwork is essential to a virtuous life.”
Pope Leo’s Video Message,
I am pleased to greet all of you taking part in thetenth Austrian World Summit.
For many decades, sustainability, integral ecology, and care for creation have been concerns.
The Church has always recognized the moral dimension of the ecological question. Indeed, the environmental crisis “is not an isolated issue, but rather the ecological aspect of the contemporary socio-economic crisis” (Magnifica Humanitas, 43).
As you respond to the current crisis, I encourage you to consider the broader context.
I would like to suggest 3 themes based on the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love.
I hope these themes will help your summit.
Let me begin with faith.
Although some may think that faith has little to contribute to questions of climate change and environmental protection, the religious dimension is essential to adequately addressing these issues.
Those who believe that God created our world and that it is inherently good feel compelled to take on an even greater responsibility to care for creation, as it is required by their faith.
“Living our vocation to protect God’s handiwork is essential to a virtuous life.”
it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience” (Pope Francis). Furthermore, many religious traditions understand ‘creation’ as a divine gift.
Similarly, many religions maintain that life is sacred and must therefore be respected. Thus, we can conclude that religious faith reinforces the desire to protect life and care for nature.
This perspective highlights the profound ethical principles I addressed in my recently published encyclical letter, Magnificent Humanity, namely the equal dignity of all human beings and the importance of fundamental human rights.
These principles can be adequately upheld through the proper implementation of the principles of the common good, the universal destination of goods, subsidiarity, solidarity, and social justice (Magnifica Humanitas, 51-81).
They should “be considered collectively, so that it becomes clear how they relate to and complement each other” (ibid., 46).
These essential personal and social matters are closely linked to the climate crisis,
one manifestation — and a critical one — of the broader socio-economic crisis.
Without addressing these issues, technical solutions for environmental protection will not be effective.
From this perspective, we must pay particular attention to the poorest among us and those most vulnerable to environmental degradation.
I encourage you to keep these groups at the forefront of your mind when evaluating, planning, and implementing potential projects.
This brings me to the second theme: hope.
Because the challenges we are facing are global, it is clear that many people are concerned.
Indeed, there is a growing awareness that peace is threatened by a lack of respect for creation, the plundering of natural resources, and a decline in quality of life due to climate change.
These challenges require international cooperation and cohesive, forward-looking multilateralism to find effective solutions.
However, various fears often emerge during deliberations and negotiations about these issues: fear of changing course, fear of losing power, and fear of uncertain outcomes. Only by overcoming these fears can we work together to find the right solutions.
Religious leaders and communities can offer special insight in supporting ambitious social and environmental efforts because the Bible is full of examples of how people can overcome their fears with hope, a gift from God.
From this perspective, hope can be a powerful driving force, despite the naysayers and cynics.
In this regard, it is not only desirable, but also possible, that the progress made at COP30 will lead to a just transition toward societies where the common good takes precedence over profit and economic models are based on solidarity and human dignity.
However, this requires wealthier countries to fulfill their financial obligations to poorer countries.
Additionally, we need to develop a new, people-centered international financial framework to ensure that all countries, especially the poorest and those most vulnerable to climate disasters, can reach their full potential and respect the dignity of their citizens.
Finally, I will address the theme of love
I would like to stress the importance of cultivating a genuine culture of care for our environment, which includes what Pope Francis called “civic and political love”
Such love is the key to authentic development.
After all, “in order to make society more human and worthy of the human person, love in social life—political, economic, and cultural—must be given renewed value and become the constant and highest norm for all activity.”
In this framework, the importance of small, everyday gestures is emphasized.
Social love inspires us to devise larger strategies to halt environmental degradation and encourage a “culture of care” that permeates all of society.
I hope your deliberations promote this culture of care and contribute to a civilization of love. Dear friends,
With these thoughts centered on faith, hope, and love, I pray that your summit will promote the much-needed dialogue necessary to find effective solutions to protect the wonderful gift of creation.
I willingly invoke God’s gifts of wisdom and peace upon you all.
