Ahead of Laudato Si' Anniversary, PH Bishop co-celebrates mass at historic Notre Dame, urges end to fossil fuel financing in the Verde Island Passage

Paris, France – In the lead up to the 10th Laudato Si' Anniversary, Bishop Gerry Alminaza of the Diocese of San Carlos co-celebrated Mass at the historic Notre-Dame de Paris alongside Archbishop Éric de Moulins-Beaufort of Reims, calling for solidarity from the French community in pressuring French banks to stop financing fossil fuel projects threatening the Verde Island Passage (VIP) in the Philippines. 

The mass marked the 50th Anniversary of Communio, a renowned French Catholic magazine that has shaped intellectual discourse on the Catholic faith and urgent global issues, including the climate crisis. This year’s celebration places particular emphasis on the Church’s response to environmental degradation and the disproportionate impact of climate change on the Global South. 

VIP, often referred to as the “Amazon of the Oceans”, is one of the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems. Spanning five provinces – Batangas, Marinduque, Romblon, Oriental Mindoro, and Occidental Mindoro – the VIP holds the highest record concentration of marine shore fish species globally.

“Despite its ecological importance, the Verde Island Passage is under threat from expanding fossil fuel operations and recurring oil spills,” said Bishop Alminaza. “These destructive activities endanger both marine biodiversity and the coastal communities that depend on them. We must address the root cause—financing by major French banks like BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole enables these companies to operate.”

BNP Paribas and Crédit Agricole are among the top French financiers of fossil gas projects in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, Crédit Agricole—through its subsidiary Indosuez Wealth Management—holds bonds in San Miguel Global Power (SMGP), which is aggressively expanding gas infrastructure across the country.

As the power subsidiary of the San Miguel conglomerate, SMGP plans to build eight gas-fired power plants and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, positioning itself as the largest driver of gas expansion in both the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Three of these projects are slated for construction within the Verde Island Passage.

“The Catholic community upholds Pope Francis’ teachings in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum,” Bishop Alminaza continued. "As we mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', we are reminded of our shared responsibility to care for our common home — uniting ecology, social justice, and faith."

“In the Philippines, our bishops have committed to divesting from banks that continue to fund fossil fuel projects by 2025. We urge our brothers and sisters in France—and the broader French public—to join us in resisting the destruction of our common home by fossil fuel giants and the financial institutions that empower them.” ###