VATICAN: Pope Francis to Miss COP 28 Summit in Dubai at Doctor’s Advice

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

The Holy Father who had planned to attend the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), slated for 30 November to 12 December, will not participate in the summit due to health reasons.

In a statement released on , November 28, by the Director of the Holy See Press Office it said, “Even though the Holy Father’s general health situation has improved in relation to the flu and respiratory tract inflammation he has been suffering from, his doctors have asked the Pope not to undertake his scheduled visit to Dubai in the coming days, on the occasion of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.”

The statement read further, “As the pope and the Holy See remain willing to be part of the discussions taking place in the coming days, the ways in which this can be implemented will be defined as soon as possible.”

Pope Francis was going to be the first pontiff to attend the United Nations (UN) event since it began in 1995.

The Holy Father had hinted early last month to attend the Dubai event and had released his schedule to be part of the summit from 1-3 December where he would give a speech, meet world leaders, and help launch a pavilion for faith-based engagement at the United Nations climate summit.

The Conference of Parties is normally an opportunity for leaders, representing state and nonstate actors, to meet and discuss policy goals that seek to establish common and often ambitious goals for climate change mitigation.