By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 14, 2023 – Bahamas Prime Minister Philip E. Davis today had a private audience at The Vatican with His Holiness Pope Francis, during which their discussions included the escalating concerns about climate change, a topic “of immense global importance,” according to an article published by BNN Network, a breaking news network based in Toronto, Canada.
“The meeting between the Bahamian Prime Minister and Pope Francis was not just symbolic, but rather an urgent discourse around the realities and impacts of climate change,” the article noted. “It was marked by the Pope’s recent remarks on this subject in his Apostolic Exhortation titled ‘Laudate Deum,’ in which he called out human-induced carbon emissions as the potential cause of cataclysmic seaquakes.”
The article added, “However, there has been rising criticism against the Pope’s statements. Critics argue that his views are emotional errors, lacking substantial scientific backing. They question his assertion that human activity induces submarine earthquakes, suggesting that this may be an exaggeration fueled by climate fearmongering.
“Further scrutiny has been directed at the Pope’s claim that the melting of continental ice sheets at the poles is irreversible for hundreds of years. Critics argue that the South Pole recently registered its coldest winter since the inception of recorded data, and there is scant evidence of significant melting in Antarctica.
“There is also a heated debate around the Pope’s claim that climate change is causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events. Critics note that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has low confidence in attributing such events directly to human influence.”
Noting that despite the criticism, “the Vatican remains firm in its position,” the article added, “The Pope’s meetings with world leaders like Prime Minister Davis underline his commitment to raising awareness about climate change. However, critics continue to question the scientific foundation of his statements, urging the Pope to rely on more substantial evidence when discussing such globally significant issues.”
In the narrative that accompanied a collection of photos he posted on Facebook on Saturday, October 14, that were taken during his meeting with the Pope, Prime Minister Davis said, “I was humbled to meet Holy Father, Pope Francis, today at the Vatican. His wisdom and guidance inspire us all. Our conversations on pressing global challenges remind us of our shared responsibilities. I’m truly thankful to the Holy Father for his gracious invitation and look forward to strengthening our bilateral ties.”
During his audience with the Pope, Prime Minister Davis was accompanied by Bahamas Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell. They also met with the Cardinal Secretary of State of the Holy See on the First Loggia of the Apostolic Palace.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Davis and Foreign Affairs Minister Mitchell will travel to Ottawa, Canada, for a CARICOM Summit that is being hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from October 16-20.
The Summit is expected to highlight the strong bonds between CARICOM and Canada while prioritising goals, including building inclusive and sustainable economies, increasing trade and investment, promoting multilateral collaboration, fighting climate change and exploring ways to improve access to financing for Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean.
The Summit will be chaired by Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, the current Chair of CARICOM.
