COP26 Blog 8: Joining the Jesuits for Climate Justice

Bishops of England & Wales, Scotland and Ireland - with climate campaigners at the end of Mass

I joined the Jesuits today. Specifically, I spent most of the day with the Jesuits at their parish Church in Glasgow and then joined Jesuit Missions for the huge Glasgow Climate March for the Global Day of Climate Action.

It all started with a Mass at 9am at St Aloysius to conclude the 24-Hour Climate Vigil for COP26. It was celebrated by Bishop William Nolan of Galloway, the environmental lead in Scotland, with the homily given by Bishop John Arnold of Salford, the lead in England and Wales. Irish Bishop Martin Hayes of Kilmore and the Irish coordinating bishop for 'Laudato Si', was also there and five Jesuits, including Leonard Chiti, the provincial of Southern Africa. Many of the young people who participated in and led the vigil were in the congregation wearing tee-shirts of CAFOD, Trocaire and Pax Christi. Dr Lorna Gold, president of the Laudato Si' Movement Board of Directors, sat near the front.

Bishop Arnold said he was optimistic about what COP26 could achieve and was impressed that young people and faith campaigners, "all have a sense of urgency of caring for Mother Earth - our common home." He told the congregation never to underestimate, "that by your personal example you can make a difference."

With a short break, the Mass was followed by another service to welcome the Jesuit group that had walked from Edinburgh over three days to highlight the climate summit. Nearly 30 of them were cheered as they walked down the road on a very stormy day and entered the church. The welcome was given by Paul Chitnis, Director of Jesuit Missions, who thanked the pilgrims, "for their efforts and their energy regarding COP26". The provincial of the Jesuits in Britain, Fr Damian Howard SJ, gave a reflection on the first chapter of Genesis where, "the context of creation is the beginning of everything". He felt he "was not one of life's demonstrators" but would be joining the group at the Climate March because, as he saw on one banner, "things are so bad even the introverts are here."

We were all invited to refreshments in the parish hall before groups began setting out towards Kelvingrove Park to join the 'Faith Bloc' of the Climate March. It was a happy choice to join a group that included Fr Damian Howard and other Jesuits, Paul Chitnis, people from Stonyhurst College, Bishop John Arnold and young Jesuit collaborators. We were given 'Jesuit Missions' high visibility vests, which made it easier to stay together, and spirits were raised by singing hymns and handing around biscuits. We sang 'Here I am Lord' as we entered the park and walked to the gathering area where other groups included Columban Missionaries, CAFOD, Glasgow Interfaith, and the Laudato Si Movement with a large inflatable globe. The line 'I the Lord of wind and rain' had a particular poignancy amidst beating wind and rain, but when - after nearly two hours - the weather improved with sunshine and a glorious rainbow appeared in the sky, everybody clapped. We were optimistic, feeling we were making an important contribution towards demonstrating that faiths demand action to stabilise Earth's climate.

All along the route into Central Glasgow I was running into collaborators in campaigning for climate justice: Lancaster Faith and Justice, Wrexham Justice and Peace, Sr Bridgetta Rooney of the Sisters of St Joseph of Peace, and Revd John Bell at the head of a group from the Iona Community singing their distinctive, 'We are marching in the light of God.' Also seeing those I didn't know but knew about their plight, particularly indigenous people from North and South America in distinctive headdresses.

The banners expressed the demands of the walkers: 'No more Blah, Act Now', 'No more gas in Mozambique', 'Count military emissions', 'System Change not Climate Change', 'Decent jobs on a living planet', 'There is no climate justice without debt justice'. The words of Pope Francis appeared everywhere - 'Hear the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor'.

The Young Christian Climate Network tweeted afterwards: "The energy and vibrancy in the march was palpable, but there was also a sense that we were marching for our lives and for the lives of our brothers and sisters globally. We pray that the leaders of the world will feel the urgency in the atmosphere. That they will act boldly, justly, and creatively. That they will make us, and all the others on this huge march today proud." The march was acknowledged in the summit today and, indeed, many delegates have been delighted to see this groundswell of popular support for significant climate action.

It is estimated that at least 120,000 people marched in Glasgow. Other UK cities where people of faith marched included London, Birmingham and Oxford. Coventry Cathedral hosted reflection and prayer. And people on every continent gathered for marches and rallies to call for serious action at the climate summit, which is a global event. Many campaigners called for urgent reform of the economic system, and linked the climate crisis to global inequality and structural racism. Activists in the Philippines, eight hours ahead of the UK, had already finished their rally as protesters gathered in Scotland.

Was it worth the five-mile walk? Absolutely it was. It was good to feel connected to people around the world wanting to make a difference and to be there for all those communities who fed into the vigil that they are already struggling to cope with the effects of a warming world.