Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, is set to represent the Holy See and deliver Pope Francis’ speech at the COP28 in Dubai. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni confirmed that Parolin will present the Pope’s contributions on December 2nd at the United Nations-convened Conference of the Parties (COP28), which began on November 30th. 

“I can confirm that Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will lead the Holy See Delegation already present in Dubai for COP28 to deliver, on Saturday, 2 December, the contribution that the Holy Father would have liked to pronounce,” said Mr. Bruni, responding to questions from reporters.

Pope’s Canceled Visit Due to Health Concerns 

The Pope’s planned visit from December 1st to 3rd was canceled due to his ongoing recovery from lung inflammation and the associated risks of the hot climate in the United Arab Emirates.

Pope Francis, who has been suffering from acute infectious bronchitis, explained his health situation during a seminar on “Ethics in Health Management” in the Vatican. “The doctor didn’t let me go to Dubai,” he said, citing the extreme heat and the risk posed by transitioning between outdoor heat and indoor air conditioning in his current bronchial condition. Despite these challenges, the Pope confirmed that he is on the path to recovery, with no fever but still undergoing antibiotic treatment.

Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for environmental stewardship, particularly through his encyclical “Laudato si’,” released in 2015. His concerns for the environment have continued with the recent publication of “Laudate Deum,” an Apostolic Exhortation that updates “Laudato si’” in light of developments over the past eight years. This document reaffirms the Pope’s commitment to responsible care for our common home and the need for urgent action to address climate change.

Cardinal Parolin’s Role at COP28 

Cardinal Parolin, who has attended previous COP meetings from Paris to Glasgow, will echo Pope Francis’ calls for action against the climate crisis, as expressed in the Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. On December 3rd, Cardinal Parolin, along with Cardinal Angél Ayuso Guixot, Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue, will inaugurate the “Faith Pavilion” at the Expo City. This Pavilion aims to harness the power of religions and religious leaders as agents of change for climate action.

In recent statements, Cardinal Parolin emphasized the Pope’s recovery and the decision to cancel the Dubai trip to prevent health deterioration. He had previously hinted at his attendance in Dubai to journalists, noting that while the Pope was recovering, he would likely attend the first part of the COP28, leaving the Vatican delegation to cover the entire two-week event.