Augustinian Recollects at COP30: missionary presence and commitment to the common home
The Augustinian Recollects were part of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30), which brought together delegations from nearly 200 countries in Belém do Pará. Together with Franciscans, Jesuits, Combonians, and other religious congregations, members of the ARCORES Network actively participated in the spaces for dialogue and reflection that accompanied the official agenda of the summit.
The participation of Consecrated Life is already a regular presence in these global meetings, especially in those where decisive issues for the future of humanity and the planet are debated. On this occasion, the Augustinian-Recollect mission manifested itself through its commitment to environmental justice and its desire to contribute, from the Gospel, to the construction of a more sustainable world.
A presence motivated by Augustinian spirituality
The ARCORES delegation took part in various activities parallel to the diplomatic sessions, including the Summit of Indigenous Peoples, conferences on the encyclical Laudato si’, and moments of prayer, listening, and shared reflection. The Augustinian-Recollect presence was based on a spiritual conviction: caring for the Earth is not only a political or technical matter, but a profoundly evangelical one.
Saint Augustine taught: “Let us possess earthly things without letting them possess us.” This maxim inspired the formative meetings and interventions in which ARCORES underscored the importance of promoting order and peace, understood as harmony among creatures, ecological balance, and justice for the most vulnerable.
A mission that is born from the Gospel
Participation in COP30 responds to three fundamental pillars of the Augustinian-Recollect mission:
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The mission sends us to where the great questions of humanity are discussed.
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Environmental justice is part of divine justice.
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Promoting the peace of creation is collaborating in the construction of the Kingdom of God.
The presence of the Augustinian-Recollect family in Belém do Pará reaffirms the Order’s commitment to the defense of the common home. Wherever the life of the planet is threatened, and where the most vulnerable peoples raise their voices in search of justice, the Church is called to be a bridge, presence, and hope.
Caring for the common home: a shared responsibility
ARCORES recalled that the climate crisis disproportionately affects the poorest communities, a recurring theme in the pastoral and social work of the Order in Latin America. Listening to indigenous peoples and collaborating with other congregations allowed for a deeper understanding of an integral and synodal view of the care of creation.
Participation in COP30 reinforces the lines of action that ARCORES promotes in different countries: sustainability projects, environmental education, promotion of clean energies, and accompaniment to communities affected by climate disasters.
Art as a prophetic voice at COP30
A significant element of this context was the artistic intervention carried out in the Paróquia de São José de Queluz, in Belém. A 25-meter mural was painted by the Filipino artist A.G. Saño, together with the aid worker Tagoy Jakosalem and the ecologist Yeb Saño, with the intention of making visible the shared ecological struggles between the Amazon and other territories affected by the climate crisis.
The work, which integrates powerful images of endangered species of the Amazon and motifs inspired by community life, was conceived as a tribute to those who defend the land and as a visual expression of solidarity between peoples. It also includes symbolic references to the call of Pope Francis and his encyclical Laudato si’, whose reflection on the interdependence of all creation gains strength at a time like this.
This artistic initiative was not a decorative act: it became a meeting space between believers, environmental defenders, indigenous communities, and citizens in general, inviting an integral ecological conversion that transcends political discourses and appeals to the heart and conscience of each person.
A commitment that continues
The presence of ARCORES at COP30 confirms the vocation of the Augustinian-Recollect family to walk alongside those who defend life, territory, and social justice. The work begun in Belém will continue through local and international initiatives, always guided by Augustinian spirituality and the call of Pope Francis to an integral ecological conversion.
As the mission of ARCORES states: caring for the common home is not just a duty; it is an essential part of our identity and service to the Church.
