Pope Leo XIV Champions Environmental Legacy: Confronting Climate Skeptics Head-On

ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV recently made a powerful statement about climate change, addressing skeptics and firmly supporting Pope Francis’ environmental vision. His remarks came during the 10th anniversary celebration of Laudato Si, Francis’ pivotal ecological encyclical, held just south of Rome.

Laudato Si emphasizes that taking care of our planet is a critical moral issue. It sparked a worldwide movement focused on protecting both the environment and vulnerable communities affected by its degradation. In front of around 1,000 attendees from various environmental and indigenous groups, Leo urged them to push national governments to enforce stricter laws to address environmental damage.

He expressed hope that the upcoming U.N. climate conference would heed the “cry of the Earth” and the “cry of the poor.” Leo’s comments come at a time when climate change is a heated topic, especially in the political arena. Just days earlier, former U.S. President Donald Trump had made headlines by downplaying climate science at the U.N. General Assembly, calling it a “con job.”

It’s notable that climate change has increasingly moved into the spotlight, with recent surveys showing that 75% of Americans recognize it as a real threat. This growing awareness contrasts sharply with past attitudes. For instance, in the late 20th century, climate change was often viewed as a distant concern rather than an immediate crisis.

Leo referenced Francis’ more recent encyclical that challenged world leaders to commit to binding climate targets to slow down global warming. He highlighted that some leaders dismiss the signs of climate change and even blame those most affected by it.

In his speech, Leo stressed that true faith should encompass love for all of God’s creations. He said, “We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while despising his creatures.” To illustrate his point, a melting glacier from Greenland was displayed behind him, emphasizing the reality of climate change.

Under Leo’s leadership, the Vatican is moving toward sustainability. Plans are in place to transform an agricultural field north of Rome into a large solar farm, aiming to make Vatican City the first carbon-neutral state in the world. This commitment to environmental stewardship reflects a significant shift in the Church’s role in the climate movement, aligning it more closely with contemporary social and ecological issues.

As eco-consciousness continues to grow, leaders like Leo advocate for urgent action, underscoring that caring for our planet is not just an environmental issue—it’s a faith issue.

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