His Holiness, Pope Francis requested Heads of Governments and Heads of States to follow up the agreement on the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda with concrete action, declaring the Agenda “a sign of hope for mankind”. He strongly supported the protection of environment, ending poverty for all, and requested that certain material (lodging, labor, land) and spiritual (religious freedom, civil rights) “minimums” be granted to everybody.
He cautioned that besides the goals, targets and indicators, decision-makers should always remember that the agenda is, first and foremost, about people. People of all social groupings have to be included and must become agents of change.
On 25 September His Holiness, Pope Francis addressed the largest number of Heads of Governments and Heads of States ever at the UN General Assembly, urging global action to protect the environment and end the suffering of "vast ranks of the excluded," saying that “human beings take precedence over partisan interests.”
The Pope spoke out against partisan interests, “the culture of waste”, selfishness, inequality and exclusion that are the root causes for the biggest global problems. He spoke strongly in favor of observing ethical norms and practical considerations in order to safeguard the environment and thereby, ensure the future of mankind.
The Pope was confident that the December Conference of States Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), widely referred to as COP 21, would secure fundamental and effective agreements.
The Pope also noted the achievements of the UN as it celebrates its seventieth anniversary. “The history of this organized community of States is one of important common achievements over a period of unusually fast-paced changes,” he said. “Without claiming to be exhaustive, we can mention the codification and development of international law, the establishment of international norms regarding human rights, advances in humanitarian law, the resolution of numerous conflicts, operations of peace-keeping and reconciliation, and any number of other accomplishments in every area of international activity and endeavor.”
His Holiness also cautioned that the experience of the last 70 years had made it clear that reform and adaptation to the times were always necessary.
