As the G7 summit approaches June 15-17 in France, the presidents of the episcopal conferences of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, issued a joint statement.
In the statement the Bishops said that they “wish to place our Churches’ capacity for dialogue, mediation, and accompaniment for the most vulnerable at the service of peace and the international community.”
The statement goes on to define four primary concerns:
- We call upon G7 states to reaffirm their commitment to genuine multilateralism, grounded in international law, cooperation among nations, and respect for human dignity. International institutions remain indispensable for preventing conflicts, protecting civilian populations, and promoting justice among peoples
- We call upon G7 states to renew their commitment to international solidarity and to an equitable partnership with countries of the Global South. Development policies must focus above all on poverty reduction, food security, access to education and health care, and the protection of the most vulnerable.
- We call upon G7 leaders and technology companies to establish clear international rules so that new technologies serve the human person and the common good. Artificial intelligence must remain under human control and be governed by clear ethical principles. Technological innovations must never lead to the dehumanisation of social relations or to the automation of decisions that affect human life.
- We call upon 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 global ecological crisis disproportionately affects the poorest populations and future generations. Climate disasters, ecosystem degradation, water shortages, and food insecurity are intensifying social tensions and driving forced displacement.
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