Cardinal Pietro Parolin to Deliver His Holiness Pope Francis’ Speech at COP28

World leaders walk down Al Wasl at the COP28 summit in Dubai  (COP28)

Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will lead the Holy See’s delegation to Dubai to deliver His Holiness Pope Francis’ contribution for the COP28 climate summit.

By Devin Watkins

The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists on Friday that Cardinal Pietro Parolin will represent His Holiness Pope Francis at the COP28 summit in Dubai.

“I can confirm that Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin will lead the Holy See Delegation already present in Dubai for COP28 to deliver, on Saturday, 2 December, the contribution that the Holy Father would have liked to pronounce,” said Mr. Bruni, responding to questions from reporters.

He added that Cardinal Parolin will participate in the inauguration of the Faith Pavilion at Expo City in Dubai on Sunday, 3 December, along with Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

Pope’s health situation

His Holiness Pope Francis had been scheduled to make an Apostolic Journey to Dubai on 1-3 December to lend his support for international efforts to curb climate change.

He decided on Tuesday to cancel the planned visit on the advice of his doctors.

The Pope has been suffering from “a very acute, infectious bronchitis”, as he said on Thursday during an audience in the Vatican.

Speaking to participants in a seminar on “Ethics in Health Management”, the Pope said he no longer has a fever but confirmed that he is still receiving antibiotic treatment.

“The doctor didn't let me go to Dubai,” he said on Thursday. “The reason is that it's very hot there, and going from the heat to air conditioning is not convenient in this bronchial situation”…

This news was originally published on the website of Vatican News. Please click here to read the full text.