The President of the Republic of Cyprus invites the Vatican to participate as an observer state in the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, was accepted by Pope Francis, who said that the initiative is in line with the urgent need for action to mitigate Climate Change and mitigate its effects.
According to a statement by the Cyprus Institute, the invitation was conveyed to the Primate of the Roman Catholic Church by the President of the Institute and Advisor to the President of the Republic and Special Envoy on Climate Change, Professor Costas Papanicolas, who together with Professor Fadi Comair, Director of the Energy, Environment and Water Resources Research Centre (EEWRC) of the ICI, attended, upon invitation, a private meeting with Pope Francis on 16 May 2022 at the Vatican.
This meeting, which follows the Pontiff's visit to Cyprus on 2 December 2021, further strengthens the existing cooperation between the ICE and the Vatican, while confirming the Foundation's strong ties with Italy.
During the meeting, Pope Francis reiterated his deep concern about the effects of Climate Change and in particular the human suffering and refugee flows it is expected to cause.
In particular, the Pontiff's concerns, as well as the vision and proposed actions against Climate Change, as contained in the Papal Encyclical "Laudato si" issued in 2015, formed the basis of the extensive discussion on ways to strengthen the Cyprus Initiative. Indeed, both sides agreed that President Anastasiades' Initiative is in line with the urgent need for action to mitigate Climate Change and mitigate its effects.
In addition, Pope Francis suggested that Professors Papanicola and Comair meet with the Chief Cardinals of the Vatican Administrative Commissions (Dicasteria) to continue the discussion on Climate Change and other related issues.
Pope Francis was presented with a gift of a faithful copy of a detail from the frescoes of the 14th-century catacomb of St. Solomon's Church in Paphos, representative of the ICF's interdisciplinary research in the study and preservation of the past. As noted in the announcement, the creation of the replica was made possible through 2D and 3D digital imaging of the catacomb by the Andreas Pittas Art Characterization Laboratories (APAC Labs) of the Science and Technology in Archaeology and Culture Center (STARC), led by graffiti heritage specialist Dr. Mia Trentin. The detailing of the mural was done with the collaboration of Dr. Joseph Hadjikyriakos, a painter and art historian.
In addition, Professors Papanicolas and Comair, as well as the Ambassador of Cyprus to the Vatican, George Poulidis, held meetings with the Heads of the various Administrative Committees, including those of Foreign Affairs and Integrated Human Development. Particularly important was the meeting with Cardinal Turkson, Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences, during which the importance of cooperation on scientific issues related to the Climate Crisis and cultural heritage was discussed at length.
Furthermore, the issue of Climate Change was discussed in the presence of Marios Georgiades, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the UN agencies in Rome (Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO, International Fund for Agricultural Development - IFAD, and World Food Programme - WFP), in a separate meeting with officials of the Embassy of Cyprus in the Italian capital.
The meeting referred to huge opportunities to be exploited, especially in cooperation with the Vatican and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The meeting also provided an opportunity for both sides to discuss future initiatives between the Cyprus Institute and the Vatican, with the aim of strengthening cooperation within the Catholic Universities Network in Europe and other important scientific institutions.
It is noted that the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative was launched by President Anastasiades in 2019, with Cyprus taking a leading role in the formulation of a Regional Climate Action Plan for the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. The aim is to develop a scientific report on the situation in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. These reports include proposed policies and recommendations for mitigation of the impacts of Climate Change, and adaptation of countries to the Climate Crisis.
The reports provide the basis for ongoing intergovernmental discussions to formulate a coordinated regional approach and joint action on climate, culminating in the Summit of Heads of State in the Middle East and North Africa. The Vatican is one of the states invited to participate in the upcoming Summit and the Ministerial Summits that will precede it, with the next Summit scheduled for 7 June 2022.
Source: CNA
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