G7 countries must re-commit to international solidarity, urge bishops

‘Amid armed conflict, geopolitical fragmentation, the crisis of multilateralism, growing inequalities, climate disruption and accelerating technological change, the dignity of the human person must remain the foundation of political and economic governance.’

Archbishop of Westminster Richard Moth has joined fellow presidents of the G7 countries’ bishops’ conferences to appeal to their heads of state to “build bridges for peace, justice and human dignity”, ahead of the G7 summit, which will be held in Évian-les-Bains, France from 15-17 June.

The bishops warned that the G7 bears a “particular responsibility for the global common good”, with member states’ decisions having direct consequences for peoples across the world, for international stability and the future of younger generations.

The appeal, signed by Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Cardinal Tarcisio Isao Kikuchi, Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, Archbishop Paul Coakley, Bishop Pierre Goudreault, Bishop John Keenan, Bishop Heiner Wilmer and Bishop Mariano Crociata, offers the Church’s “capacity for dialogue, mediation, and accompaniment for the most vulnerable at the service of peace and the international community”.

The bishops stressed that “geopolitical tensions mount and the international order continues to erode” and urged the G7 countries to “reaffirm their commitment to genuine multilateralism, grounded in international law, cooperation among nations, and respect for human dignity”.

“Lasting peace cannot be guaranteed by the logic of power, the arms race, or rival force,” they said. “International institutions remain indispensable for preventing conflicts, protecting civilian populations, and promoting justice among peoples.”

The bishops appealed to the G7 states to strengthen these international institutions so that they may “better serve the global common good” and to “lead the way towards reconciliation among peoples through dialogue, negotiation and mutual respect” in Ukraine, the Holy Land, Sudan, South Sudan, the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Sahel.

“We also reaffirm the importance of upholding international humanitarian law, protecting civilian populations, safeguarding religious freedom, and respecting the dignity of prisoners of war and the displaced,” they said.

“Children, families and religious minorities are often the first victims of conflict: their protection must be an absolute priority.”

The bishops also said that recent reductions in overseas development assistance in several G7 countries are a “matter of grave concern”.

“As humanitarian needs grow across the world, millions of people are seeing their access to food, healthcare, education and protection eroded,” they said.

They urged the G7 states to “renew their commitment to international solidarity and to an equitable partnership with countries of the Global South” through development policies focusing on poverty reduction, food security, access to education and health care, and the protection of the most vulnerable.

“We also encourage peoples to listen more attentively to one another, for the building of peace, justice and international fraternity depends on the ability to develop concrete processes, forms of dialogue and participation that make possible a genuine culture of encounter.”

The bishops encouraged industrialised countries to maintain development funding in line with their international commitments, with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a “shared frame of reference”, and to ensure that “the cost of new strategic priorities is not borne by the most vulnerable populations”.

The bishops also said that international trade and economic partnerships, particularly in critical minerals and natural resources, must be “grounded in equity, respect for the rights of local populations, decent working conditions, and environmental protection”.

“Development cannot be built at the cost of human exploitation or the irreversible degradation of our common home,” they said.

The bishops warned that the global ecological crisis disproportionately affects the poorest populations and future generations, and called on the G7 states to commit to “bold and verifiable measures to accelerate a just ecological transition, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expand renewable energy and support the most vulnerable countries in facing the consequences of climate change”.

“The protection of our common home is not only an environmental necessity but also a requirement of justice,” they said. “The most industrialised countries bear a special responsibility in view of their level of resource consumption and their historical contribution to global warming.”

The bishops’ appeal also urged that migrants and refugees always be received with dignity, while recognising the legitimate responsibility of states to safeguard the common good: “Those forced to flee war, persecution, poverty or climate disasters cannot be regarded as a threat. They are our brothers and sisters in humanity.”

They also called for strengthened international cooperation in the fight against organised crime, human trafficking, illicit trade, corruption, and illicit financial flows, and reiterated the Holy See’s call for an ethical governance of artificial intelligence.

The bishops said the Catholic Church is committed to humanitarian work and to building bridges among peoples, so it can “help rebuild trust, accompany those wounded by war, and create the social and moral conditions for lasting peace”.

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