Caritas Oceania has called on governments, international leaders, and Church communities worldwide to recognise the Pacific as a “sacred Ocean” and to take urgent action in response to extreme human and ecological disruption.
The call comes ahead of the COP31 climate conference in Türkiye this week.
It also follows synodal gatherings and spiritual reflection across the Pacific, culminating in the Caritas Oceania Regional Forum and Synodal Conversation on the Ocean held in Wellington in late October.
Drawing on the firsthand testimonies of frontline islanders, indigenous custodians, and community workers, Caritas Oceania proposed a vision that unites the fight against climate vulnerability with a spiritual calling to defend the dignity of both humanity and creation.
“Out in the field, our role is not to dictate or assume control, but to arrive with the humility of listeners,” Caritas Oceania president, Cardinal Soane Mafi, said.
“When we stand with the smallest and most vulnerable, we encounter the very face of Christ in our broken and grieving communities. Their pain, culture, and survival must guide every humanitarian and ecological decision.”
Rooted in Pope Francis’ ecological encyclical Laudato Si’, the Synodal Conversation event challenged decision-makers to adopt an expanded understanding of dignity that encompasses entire ecosystems.
Caritas Oceania has called for bold, innovative approaches to environmental justice, such as the formal “consecration” of the Pacific Ocean and exploring the concept of legal personhood for the Pacific Ocean under a rights-of-nature framework, as has happened in other locations.
Through its synodal discernment, Caritas Oceania proposed the following:
- Spiritual consecration of Oceania: Initiating steps to explore dedicating Oceania under the maternal protection of Our Lady.
- Uncompromising climate advocacy: Amplifying local Pacific voices in global policy forums to demand rapid climate mitigation, loss and damage accountability
- Synod on the Ocean: Seeking a people-centred, Pacific-led full Synod on the Ocean, grounded in Laudato Si’, to reflect the pastoral concerns and needs of tangata o le moana (the people of the ocean).
“Despite serious environmental threats, Caritas Oceania affirms that despair does not have the final word,” Cardinal Mafi said.
“Grounded in solidarity and communal faith, our island communities continue to navigate difficult waters with courage, deep resilience, and enduring joy.
“We are committed to work with the governments and people of the region to promote the ‘Blue Pacific’ as a peaceful and harmonious place where life flourishes for the benefit of all.”
FULL STORY
Caritas Oceania Our Sacred Ocean cries out for bold action (Caritas Oceania)
