Pope Leo XIV has urged global leaders to take decisive action to protect the environment, emphasizing that harming the natural world conflicts with Christian teachings. Speaking at a climate conference on Wednesday, he stressed the moral responsibility to care for creation.
“We cannot love God, whom we cannot see, while disregarding His creatures,” Leo said, addressing the conference commemorating a decade since Pope Francis’ landmark environmental document. He called on all sectors of society, including advocacy groups and NGOs, to push governments for stricter environmental regulations and oversight.
This was Pope Leo’s first major environmental address since his election in May. He has indicated his intent to continue his predecessor’s ecological initiatives, opening a new environmental center at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome. Leo emphasized the need for a spiritual and societal shift, urging people both within and outside the Church to recognize the urgent duty of caring for the planet.
Tribute to Laudato si’ and Upcoming Climate Summits
During his speech, Leo paid homage to Francis’ encyclical Laudato si’, which framed environmental stewardship as a moral imperative for Catholics and linked ecological degradation with global poverty. The encyclical was strategically released ahead of the Paris COP21 climate summit to galvanize religious communities and other groups toward environmental protection, inspiring the ongoing “Laudato si’ Movement.”
The Pope also highlighted the upcoming COP30 climate conference in Brazil, expressing hope that these international gatherings will heed “the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, indigenous peoples, migrants, and believers worldwide.” Attendees at the Castel Gandolfo event included former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a supporter of papal climate initiatives.
Leo also referenced Francis’ second environmental document, Laudate Deum, which criticized those who dismiss scientific evidence of climate change. He called for a “true ecological conversion” that transforms hearts, communities, and behaviors. “We must move from merely collecting data to genuinely caring for creation,” he said, adding a moral appeal: “God will ask us whether we have nurtured and protected the world for all people and future generations. What will our answer be?”
Engaging with US Political Issues
The Pope’s remarks followed his recent commentary on US politics, where he questioned whether someone can claim to be pro-life while supporting harsh immigration policies or the death penalty. His comments were prompted by controversy surrounding an award given by Cardinal Blase Cupich in Chicago to Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, who supports abortion rights but has advocated for immigrant protections.
Leo emphasized evaluating a person’s overall service rather than isolated positions. “If someone says, ‘I oppose abortion but endorse the inhumane treatment of immigrants,’ I question whether that truly aligns with pro-life principles,” he said. He stressed that complex issues require nuanced understanding and cautioned against deepening political polarization.
Aligning with Francis, Pope Leo supports abolishing the death penalty. He has a personal history of advocacy on this issue, having previously praised Illinois’ Governor Pat Quinn in 2011 for ending capital punishment.
Through his recent speeches, Pope Leo demonstrates a dual focus: urging global action against climate change while promoting ethical consistency and moral reflection in political and social matters.
