JESC joins Catholic international movement to divest from fossil fuels

The following release was issued by JESC on 25 April. Read more about divestment by Catholic organisations here.

The Jesuit European Social Centre (JESC) has joined the joint movement to divest from fossil fuels, along with other Catholic organisations such as Caritas Internationalis, Catholic banks, bishops and others. A full list of institutions can be seen here.

JESC is committed to fight climate change and believes that this task must be done with a close collaboration between Catholic institutions. Jean Claude Hollerich SJ, President of the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE), stated that “divestment is an important way for the Church to show leadership in the context of changing climate. Praise be to all those who serve ‘the least of these’ by protecting the environment.”

Caritas Internationalis, three leading Catholic banks with balance sheets totaling approximately €7.5 billion, several dioceses, and other international organisations have joined forces. JESC believes that this is a good opportunity to put our ideals of fighting climate change into practice in line with Pope Francis’s Laudato Si Encyclical on Care for our Common Home. “Pope Francis has invited us to take a prophetic lead in caring for our common home. This is a small but necessary step towards such a goal,” said Peter Rožič SJ, JESC Director.

This joint commitment was coordinated by the Global Catholic Climate Movement. Tomás Insua, its Executive Director, said that “when it comes to protecting our common home, we have not a moment to lose. Divesting from fossil fuels is important to bending the arc of emissions downward soon.”