Rome, 21 April
Press contact: Reba Elliott, [email protected], + 1 202 717 7228
Pope Francis’s passing comes during the 10th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking encyclical Laudato Si’, which examined long-standing Catholic environmental teaching in the light of today’s planetary crisis. Pope Francis’s leadership has borne initiatives that transformed the Catholic Church into a powerful force for action on the planetary crisis and have had an influence far beyond the Church itself.
- Laudato Si’ was published ahead of negotiations for the Paris agreement in May 2015, and Pope Francis engaged in diplomacy to ensure the accord’s passed with a reference to keeping global temperatures below the threshold of 1.5C This benchmark temperature has had a significant impact on ensuring climate ambition since. The agreement passed, and the Holy See is a party to it.
- The Laudato Si’ Action Platform, which was launched by Pope Francis, has spurred a wide range of Catholic institutions to develop practical plans for action on ecology, touching 20 million people to date.
- Care for creation has become an increasingly important part of how Catholics live their faith. The ecumenical Season of Creation and annual Laudato Si’ Week, which are co-sponsored by the Vatican, and the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, for which Pope Francis issued annual messages, engage millions of people each year in prayer and action for our common home on these occasions. These exemplify how the message is now mainstream in Catholic life.
- Pope Francis inspired many other faith leaders and faithful to take action for creation, breathing new life into the global ‘faith environment’ movement. Faith-led action on the environment has increased significantly since 2015. Ahead of COP21 in 2021, Pope Francis hosted 50 faith leaders at the Vatican, which led to a groundbreaking multi-faith statement. Other significant developments include the publication Al Mizan, which is known as the “Muslim Laudato Si’”.
- Laudato Si’ was the inspiration which launched the Global Catholic Climate Movement, renamed Laudato Si’ Movement by Pope Francis himself in 2020. This global movement has certified nearly 20,000 environmental leaders (Laudato Si’ Animators) across 140 countries to lead community-based initiatives. The organization’s documentary featuring Pope Francis and frontline leaders has been seen by well over 10 million people.
Pope Francis’ legacy has profoundly transformed Catholics’ understanding of the relationship between humanity, creation, and the Creator. Standing on scripture, centuries of scholarship, and decades of papal statements on the environment, he brought Catholic teaching to life in a new way for today’s ecological crisis, influencing not only the Church but global policies, interfaith dialogue, and grassroots activism.
Climate and environment leaders reacted to the pope’s passing:
Mark Campanale, founder and director of Carbon Tracker, said: “Pope Francis’s legacy goes far beyond the body of the Catholic Church. As a visionary leader, he sparked lasting momentum for a just transition away from fossil fuels and towards lasting sources of renewable energy. Although we’ve lost a great leader, the seeds of an ethical vision for this planet, our common home, will continue to bear fruit in the years to come.”
Tzeporah Berman, founder and chair of the steering committee of the Fossil Fuel Nonproliferation Treaty, said: “There is no doubt that Pope Francis made a huge impact on progress towards a future without fossil fuels. His moral authority stands in stark contrast to governments that want to put their heads in the sand and pretend that climate change isn’t happening. His leadership has shed new light on the climate crisis that affects us all.”
Bill McKibben, founder of 350.org and Third Act, said: “Pope Francis–informed by science and scripture–understood many things deeply, one of them solar energy. Under his leadership, he moved to make sure Vatican City will soon be the only nation on earth powered entirely by the sun, and he did it in a letter (Fratello Sole) that makes specific reference to his namesake in Assisi and his Canticle of the Sun. The world has lost a great champion, but he left a light shining!”
Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and founder of Project Dandelion, said: “I met with Pope Francis on several occasions, and among many qualities, I respected his leadership on climate justice. Pope Francis reminded us that the climate crisis is not only an environmental emergency—it is a moral challenge. He spoke out many times about the climate and nature crisis, raising his voice for those least responsible yet most affected: the poor, the marginalised, and future generations. With the courage of his convictions, he called us to care for our common home and to recognise that the fate of the Earth and the fate of humanity are one and the same. His leadership urged a new kind of solidarity—rooted in compassion, justice, and the deep understanding that we are all connected.”
Catholic leaders reacted to the pope’s passing:
Monsignor Eric de Moulins-Beaufort, President of the French Bishops’ Conference, said“Laudato Si’, published in June 2015 just before COP21 in Paris, was a tremendous catalyst for Catholic engagement, both worldwide and particularly in Paris in the lead-up to the COP. Many initiatives that were being prepared suddenly found an echo in parishes, were joined by enthusiastic volunteers, and gained credibility. As Auxiliary Bishop of Paris, I was a joyful witness to this.”
Bishop Allwyn D’Silva, Chairman of the Office of Human Development, Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences, said “Long before Pope Francis, activists at the grassroots recognised that environmental problems and climate change affected the poor most, and that they are the hardest hit. However, it took a spiritual leader of Pope Francis’ statue to give a tremendous boost to integral ecology. In Laudato Si’ the Holy Father has elucidated the concept beautifully. He did not use high theological terms or scientific jargon to describe integral ecology. Rather, he simply stated that the cry of the earth is the cry of the poor, and thus holistic solutions are needed.”
Bishop Serverus Jjumba, Bishop of the Diocese of Masaka, Uganda, said: “Pope Francis chose to exceptionally promote integral ecology when he published, for the first time in the history of the Church, teaching on stewardship consolidated in one single document titled ‘Laudato Si’. The document was issued as an encyclical–a very high level of doctrinal authority. It was also crafted to be a document for all faiths and cultures, another vital ingredient that built synergies across the board to solve the climate crisis, an issue that must truly be everyone’s concern.”
Bishop John Keenan, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “We thank God for the Pope’s service which was always human and humble in its informal style and with a message of God’s universal love and unconditional mercy that brought hope to so many. A man of the poor who lived simply, Pope Francis was a voice for the voiceless and all those who find themselves on the margins in our world. A man of peace, he called the Church to listen to everyone, to move forward together as a family, to find a conciliatory approach to those of different beliefs and lifestyles, for an end to conflicts across the world and for the care of Creation as God’s precious gift to humanity.”
Lorna Gold, executive director of Laudato Si’ Movement, said “As the spiritual leader who guided our Church for 12 years, Pope Francis breathed new life into centuries of Catholic teaching. As the man who inspired me and our movement, his warmth, humility, and commitment to the common good showed us a new way forward. He sparked a sense of new hope and beginnings for many, so it’s fitting that Pope Francis passed into eternal rest during Easter, when we celebrate the renewal of all life. We pray thanks for the gift of Pope Francis and for sharing in his precious few moments on Earth.”
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