Greater Manchester civic leaders and members of the faith community will meet with Pope Francis at The Vatican this week to pledge a commitment to tackling climate change.
On Thursday April 20, the region’s faith and civic leaders will attend a private audience with Pope Francis to discuss how Greater Manchester is tackling the climate crisis and make a formal commitment in his presence on the action they pledge to take in future.
The group, led by Bishop of Salford John Arnold and Dean of Manchester Rogers Govender, will consist of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, The Lord Mayor of Manchester, Donna Ludford, David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, Gorton MP Mohammed Afzal Kahn and Chair of the Manchester Climate Change Partnership Mike Wilton.
City Centre Methodist Minister Rev’d Ian Rutherford, Rabbi Robyn Ashworth Steen from the Manchester Reform Synagogue, Rev’d Grace Thomas, Environmental Officer for the Diocese of Manchester and members of the Sikh and Hindu communities will also attend.
Dean of Manchester Rogers Govender said: “It is an honour to go to The Vatican in the presence of the Holy Father to reflect and share wisdom on one of the most pressing issues of our era, the climate crisis.
“In Manchester and the wider borough, faith leaders have been working to address these issues for more than a decade. As Greater Manchester continues to grow, we cannot avoid the challenges of carbon reduction and the impact on the environment. It is this desire to work together across faith communities, and the political and civic sectors that needs greater action.
“Bishop John and I hope this once in a lifetime audience with Pope Francis will reflect this commitment to greater collaboration to benefit all the people of Greater Manchester.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “This is the first time that all the faith leaders of Greater Manchester have come together with civic leaders to agree our pledge for a greener Greater Manchester region.
“It will give me great pride to be at The Vatican to witness the historic moment our faith and civic leaders make our commitment to the Holy Father.”
