Pope Francis has become one of the world’s leading defenders of the environment, using his position as head of the Catholic Church to demand that world leaders take swift action to save the planet and its species.
His advocacy was shaped by personal encounters with climate disasters, theological reflection, and a growing awareness of the disproportionate impact of environmental devastation on the world’s poorer population.
Through landmark documents and public statements, Francis challenged both the faithful and world leaders to acknowledge the moral dimensions of ecological responsibility. His legacy is marked by a call for holistic solutions that combine care for the planet with social and economic justice.
A Rain-Soaked Mass at Tacloban
In 2015, Pope Francis visited Tacloban, Philippines, a region ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful storms ever recorded. During a rain-soaked Mass, Francis wore a simple yellow poncho like the locals and experienced firsthand the kind of extreme weather events scientists say are linked to global warming.
He had to shorten his visit due to the stormy weather, but the suffering he witnessed left a profound impact. Francis was moved to silence by the pain of survivors, an experience that would later influence his passionate advocacy for climate action.
Witnessing the Human Cost of Climate Change
Francis traveled to Tacloban to comfort the survivors of Typhoon Haiyan, which left more than 7,300 people dead and displaced millions. The destruction he witnessed underscores the vulnerability of low-lying island communities to extreme weather, which climate change is making worse.
Addressing the masses in a muddy airport field, Francis said he did not know what to tell those who had lost everything. This experience deepened his understanding of the urgent need to address environmental injustices and inspired his future writings on the topic.
The Landmark Encyclical: “Praised Be”
A couple of months after he visited Tacloban, Pope Francis issued his groundbreaking encyclical, “Laudato Si’” (“Praised Be”), presenting the care of the planet as an urgent moral priority.
The document criticized profit-based economic systems in the world’s wealthy nations for turning the Earth into a “pile of filth” and highlighted that the poor, Indigenous peoples, and islanders suffer most from environmental degradation.
“Laudato Si’” became the first encyclical devoted to the environment, firmly establishing Francis as a world leader in the global environmental movement and inspiring faith-based climate activism.
A Personal Journey Toward Ecological Awareness
Francis’s environmental concern has not always been central to his worldview. His transformation started at a 2007 bishops’ meeting in Aparecida, Brazil, where he was initially reluctant to prioritize environmental concerns.
Under pressure from the Brazilian bishops to address the Amazon’s challenges, he eventually acknowledged the reality of ecological devastation.
The document resulting from that meeting denounced resource exploitation and linked the destruction of the environment to defying God’s plan. This experience proved to be a turning point, shaping Francis’s later teachings about the interconnectedness of social and ecological matters.
Integrating Faith and Ecology
Drawing inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, Pope Francis emphasized the spiritual duty to “cultivate” and “care” for creation. His encyclical and subsequent actions focused on the ethical dimensions of climate justice, pointing out that the least responsible for polluting our planet and creating climate change— the poor — suffer the most.
By making ecological care a matter of faith, Francis hoped to mobilize the global Catholic community and beyond, urging collective action to protect the environment as an expression of love for God and neighbor.
Holistic Approach to Global Challenges
Francis viewed environmental destruction as intertwined with other global crises, such as poverty, inequality, and migration. He often talked about the “throwaway culture” that he said is at the root of so many of humanity’s ills, arguing that solutions to environmental problems must also address social and economic injustices.
He described his vision as “integral ecology,” a comprehensive approach that interwove the fate of all life on the planet. This philosophy guided Vatican initiatives on issues ranging from pandemic response to economic development, and promoted the idea that “everything is connected.”
Building on Papal Precedents
Although Francis was not the first pope to address environmental concerns, he significantly elevated the Church’s ecological teaching. Pope Paul VI spoke about an “ecological catastrophe” in 1970, while Pope Benedict XVI, nicknamed the “green pope,” promoted renewable energy at the Vatican.
However, both the encyclical and Francis’s willingness to challenge powerful polluters signaled a new level of urgency and moral clarity. His leadership helped bring environmental issues to the forefront of Catholic social teaching and global discourse.
Inspiring a Global Movement
Pope Francis’s passionate advocacy of the environment inspired a global movement that transcended religious boundaries. His encyclical “Laudato Si’” was cited by world leaders, scientists, and activists and served as a catalyst for new partnerships between faith communities and environmental organizations.
Francis’s message inspired local efforts like parish-based sustainability programs and international policy debates, including the 2015 Paris climate negotiations.
By presenting ecological stewardship as a moral and spiritual imperative, Francis inspired millions to view the protection of the Earth as not just a political or scientific issue but a sacred duty.
Growing Urgency and Lasting Legacy
In 2023, Francis released an updated version of “Laudato Si’” with an even more urgent tone. It openly criticized some of the world’s major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and climate change deniers, including within the Church.
He often emphasized that while marginalized communities suffer the most from climate change, their voices remain sidelined in climate discussions.
By reasserting the ethical and spiritual dimensions of safeguarding the planet, Francis also redefined the worldwide debate on climate change, leaving a legacy that will ensure care for creation is at the heart of the Church’s mission.
Explore more of our trending stories and hit Follow to keep them coming to your feed!
Don’t miss out on more stories like this! Hit the Follow button at the top of this article to stay updated with the latest news. Share your thoughts in the comments—we’d love to hear from you!
