Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has urged the faithful to participate in a prayer-march on Nov. 29, the day before the global climate change talks in Paris, to encourage global leaders to hear the moral imperative for a climate treaty.
“I encourage everyone, especially our various communities in the Archdiocese of Manila to participate in the Metro Manila-wide Climate Solidarity Prayer March,” he said in a post on the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) News site.
The gathering, led by Catholic communities, aims to show solidarity with over a million people who are expected to gather in over 2,000 cities around the world for a Global Climate March.
The Global Catholic Climate Movement (GCCM), according to Tagle, has enjoined the Catholic faithful to participate.
The GCCM said that following Pope Francis’ call to action, Catholics are urged to join in the global movement to tell world leaders that “climate change is real, and we care” so actions must be taken immediately.
The movement is expected to hand over to world leaders a petition with over 20 million signatures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Aside from Manila, 12 other places will hold marches, namely, Antipolo City, Baguio City, Baler, Cagayan de Oro City, Cebu City, Ibaan (Batangas), Imus City, Jaro (Iloilo), Las Piñas City, Mandaluyong City, San Fernando (Pampanga) and Tuguegarao City.
In Manila, various groups will gather at 6 a.m. at three points: Central Bank corner Vito Cruz Street, San Andres Street corner Quirino Avenue, and in front of Ermita Church.
At 7 a.m., the marchers will depart toward Rajah Sulayman Park in front of Malate Church for a prayer session, a program and Mass until 11 a.m.
The CBCP earlier called on the Filipino Catholic faithful to do their part in combating global warming. It issued a list of 15 concrete ways to combat global warming, including growing a tree, banning plastic, waste segregation, promoting renewable energy, and using energy-efficient appliances.