Pope Francis passed away aged 88 on Easter Monday, after a twelve year long pontificate marked by a transformative approach towards the environment. The head of the Holy See expressed his views about human relationships with the natural world in 2015’s “Encyclical Laudato Si”, where he appealed for a new way of thinking about human beings, life, society and our relationship with nature. It is strongly believed that Pope Francis’ Encyclical for the environment supported the success of the international climate agreement in 2015, known as the Paris Climate Accord.
The Pope was a dedicated supporter of the global Earth Day, which marks its 55th anniversary today on April 22nd. “He was without a doubt the world’s most earnest and influential voice in protecting our planet. For more than ten years, Pope Francis has taken countless actions to bring to life the “cultural, spiritual, and educational” dimensions of the climate challenge”, said Earth Day’s President Kathleen Rogers in an official statement. Pope Francis’ call to protect our common home and his ability to show the connection between humanity and the natural world had a transformative role for the Catholic Church. “Encyclical Laudato Si”, which marks its tenth anniversary this year, highlighted both the voice of the youth and of the impoverished in coping with climate change and environmental degradation.
“Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded”, Pope Francis reminded us in “Encyclical Laudato Si”.
There has not been a Pontiff so devoted to climate and the environment, through the means of international cooperation, as Pope Francis. In 2023, His Holiness tried to attend the COP28 Conference in Dubai, however, his health condition prohibited him from going. On his behalf, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin stated at the UN climate summit in Dubai that “the destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin that is not only personal but also structural”. Of course, the role of the Vatican State in the UN climate negotiations was not always black and white — for example, during the COP29 Conference, the Holy See delegation blocked efforts to give women a greater opportunity to access climate finance. Despite this, the Pontificate of Pope Francis was overall an invaluable effort to inspire action on climate change and prevent environmental degradation around the world.
Even the first seconds of his role as the Bishop of Rome were marked by a devotion to the natural world. His Holiness selected his papal name after none other than St. Francis of Assisi, who was associated with the patronage of animals and the environment. Pope Francis will be remembered as a global advocate for climate action and the protection of biodiversity. His teachings are timeless and can be an inspiration to many people around the world, no matter their religious beliefs and background. The Pontiff had a great talent to unify people behind climate action, as he highlighted in “Laudato Si”: “the climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all”. As the world marks the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day, let’s remember and be inspired by the environmental legacy of His Holiness Pope Francis.
