Pope plans Glasgow visit to address world leaders at climate change summit

PRESIDENT Biden’s climate change envoy, John Kerry, has said Pope Francis intends to come to Scotland for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26.

Mr Kerry said the Pope wants to come to Glasgow to address world leaders on climate change at the summit, which takes place in the city from November 1 to 12. It would be the first papal visit to Scotland since Pope Benedict XVI in September 2010. He held an open air mass in Glasgow.

Special Presidential Envoy Mr Kerry made a special visit to the Vatican on Saturday and had a private audience with Pope Francis.

Mr Kerry is in Europe visiting Rome, London and Berlin, to meet European government officials and business leaders to strengthen cooperation on dealing with climate change.

He said: “The Pope is one of the great voices of reason and compelling moral authority on the subject of the climate crisis. He’s been ahead of the curve. He’s been a leader.

“And I think his voice will be a very important voice leading up to and through the Glasgow conference, which I believe he intends to attend.

“So, we need everybody in this fight. All the leaders of the world need to come together and every country needs to do its part.

“And I think his Holiness speaks with a moral authority that is quite separate. It’s unique and we need all the power we can bring to the table.”

He added that “we can do this. That’s the important thing. People need to know this is doable,” but stressed that “no one country can solve this problem. It takes all of us together to get it done”.

The Archdiocese of Glasgow tweeted: “Pope Francis intends to come to Glasgow to address world leaders at the COP26 summit on the climate change emergency. The news was given by John Kerry, President Biden’s climate change envoy.”