The events, called an “ecological awakening,” were carried out simultaneously in four cities: Kraków, Gdańsk, Poznań, and Toruń. The events featured the Minister and Vice-Minister of Agriculture, the bishop of Gdańsk, the coordinator of the Commision on Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation for UISG (the world’s largest group of women religious), and other leaders.
Minister of Agriculture and Panelists
The leaders called for action to reduce food waste and its related greenhouse gas emissions, and discussed specific policy proposals to achieve goals. Leaders publicly signed a Global Catholic Climate Movement-sponsored St. Francis’ Pledge, which commits signatories to reducing food waste.
The pledge was signed by Michał Kurtyka, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Environment and the President of COP24, and by the assembled leaders.
These events were inspired by the Church’s ongoing commitment to caring for our common home, with a special emphasis on Laudato Si’. A video on creation care from Pope Francis was translated into Polish and shown at all events.
embed video: The Pope Video – Care for Creation – Polish Edi…
Outside the conference halls, parishes around Poland were engaged. Volunteers distributed country-specific information about food waste in churches and collected signatures for the St. Francis Pledge.
Bishop of Gdansk Signs Pledge
These events were covered widely in Polish press. In total, 21 media outlets covered the story. These included:
- The news program of TVP1, a program that is watched by about 1.5 people daily, reaching a mainly conservative audience
- TVP Info news, which reaches 1.4 million viewers
- Radio Maryja, a conservative Catholic radio station
- Wiadomosci Onenet, a large digital news portal
These events demonstrate that Catholic leadership in Poland is making important progress towards caring for creation and all who share it.