Pope Leo XIV delivered his first major address on climate change, urging Catholics and global citizens to unite in environmental advocacy. He emphasized that caring for our planet, a core concern of his predecessor, Pope Francis, should not be a divisive issue.
Speaking at a climate conference commemorating the tenth anniversary of “Laudato Si,” a pivotal papal document on environmental protection, Leo highlighted the increasing urgency of the challenges outlined a decade ago. He shared the stage with notable figures like actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brazil’s climate minister at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, near the Vatican.
During his ten-minute address, Pope Leo focused on practical steps individuals and local communities can take. He underscored the importance of grassroots action, stating that non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups must pressure governments for stronger environmental regulations. He called for active citizen participation in political decision-making at all levels to mitigate environmental damage.
This speech reaffirms the new Pope’s dedication to keeping climate change at the forefront of global conversation. Having been elected in May as the first American pope, Leo has maintained a cautious approach on many sensitive topics. His most impactful remarks on climate echoed those of Francis, especially when he questioned why “caring for our common home and listening to the cry of the earth and the poor” are often treated as divisive issues. Notably, he avoided direct criticism of any national leader or policy, even in the wake of former President Trump’s recent dismissal of climate change as a “con job” at the United Nations General Assembly. However, he did reference Francis’s 2023 update to Laudato Si, which lamented those who “deride” and “ridicule” climate change warnings or blame the poor for its impacts.
Pope Francis had previously framed climate change as a profound spiritual issue for the Roman Catholic Church’s 1.4 billion followers, warning that the world’s most vulnerable disproportionately bear the brunt of global warming.
In recent months, Pope Leo has continued this focus. In July, he introduced a new Mass rite “to ask God for the ability to care for creation,” and in September, he spoke passionately about the injustices and greed contributing to deforestation, pollution, and the loss of biodiversity.
The potential for the Pope’s moral influence to drive climate action remains a subject of debate. Despite Francis’s past efforts, including his appeal to former President Trump regarding the Paris Agreement, robust action has been slow. Francis himself expressed frustration in 2023, noting the meager progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions since his original encyclical.
As the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference approaches in Brazil, alarming indicators persist: 2024 marked the warmest year on record, with extreme weather displacing millions. Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, stressed that Paris Agreement commitments remain largely unfulfilled despite scientific evidence. She called for “ethical determination” to honor these pledges, particularly for vulnerable populations.
Cardinal Michael Czerny, a close environmental collaborator with Francis and head of the Vatican’s climate ministry, expressed concern that a polarized global landscape hinders cooperation. He worried that the upcoming UN conference might prove to be little more than a “charade.”
Meanwhile, in the United States, policies have shifted, with former President Trump closing climate research laboratories and halting renewable energy initiatives. Several major countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia, have increased coal power production since 2020. Alarmingly, only a third of Paris Agreement signatories have updated their climate pledges.
Despite these setbacks, climate activists and scientists cling to hope that the Pope’s moral authority can still inspire positive change. Piers Forster, a professor of climate physics at the University of Leeds, believes that “Every little step and every little statement by someone as important as Pope Leo can clearly begin to move populations and countries in the right direction.”
A correction was made on Oct. 1, 2025: An earlier version of this article misstated when Pope Leo released a new rite for Mass and made remarks on deforestation, pollution and the loss of biodiversity. He released the new rite for Mass in July and delivered his comments in September.