In the context of CLAR Magazine No. 1, 2026, dedicated to “the new faces of poverty in Latin America and the Caribbean”, Comboni missionary Dário Bossi offers a critical yet hopeful analysis of COP30, held in Belém do Pará, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon.
The article clearly denounces a troubling reality: the inability of major international forums to hear the cry of the people and of the Earth. Despite the severity of the climate crisis, the Conference was once again marked by the interests of an extractivist economy that prioritizes capital over life.
As the author points out, COP30 once again avoided making concrete commitments to phase out fossil fuels, while the influence of corporations and lobbyists shaped global decisions. This “institutional deafness” contrasts with the strength of indigenous peoples and popular movements, who raised their voices proclaiming: “We are the answer.”
The text emphasizes that the climate crisis is not only environmental, but also spiritual, ethical, and political. In this regard, it echoes Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, which invite us to a comprehensive ecological conversion and to recognize that the planet’s deterioration is deeply linked to social inequalities.
Faced with this scenario, a Church emerges that moves in two directions: from below, accompanying communities in their territories; and from above, influencing decision-making spaces with a prophetic voice of denunciation and proposal. This synodal presence was expressed through the coordination of ecclesial networks, social movements, and international organizations committed to climate justice.
Of particular relevance was the participation of indigenous peoples, who not only denounced false solutions but also proposed concrete alternatives from their territories, reaffirming their role as guardians of life and of our Common Home.
The article also highlights the importance of an incarnational spirituality, capable of sustaining hope in the midst of the crisis. In dialogue with other religions, it is emphasized that the response to global challenges cannot be merely technical or political, but must be deeply ethical and spiritual.
As a horizon for action, Bossi proposes four key paths for Religious Life in Latin America and the Caribbean: defending territories, promoting alternative economies, living in simplicity as a sign of freedom, and acting in networks with a clear prophetic dimension.
In a context of climate crisis and the weakening of multilateralism, the article invites us to recognize that transformation will not come solely from power structures, but from organized peoples, communities, and networks that, from the grassroots, build alternative ways of life.
From the Amazon, this call resonates powerfully for the entire Church: to listen to the cry of the Earth and of the peoples, and to courageously take on the mission of caring for our Common Home.