Climate Displaced People

Pastoral orientations - Migrants & Refugees Section, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development

As Pope Francis declares, "we are in the midst of an emergency". The continuing climate crisis threatens people's fundamental rights, and displacement caused by climate change is increasing.

It displaced 24.9 million people in 2019,* and floods, landslides, fires, droughts, and hurricanes will cause further displacement in the future. By 2050, an estimated 250 million people will be affected by forced displacement, and the most vulnerable groups in society will continue to suffer the most.

The climate crisis has a very human face. It is already a reality for multitudes of vulnerable people worldwide. The Catholic Church shows a warm pastoral care for those who have been displaced from their homes by its effects.

The Pastoral Orientations on Climate Displaced People explains the new challenges posed by the disturbing perilous phenomena of climate disruption in many parts of the globe and suggests appropriate pastoral responses.

To download the document and get more information:

Climate Displaced People - Migrants & Refugees Section - (migrants-regugees.va)