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 Holy Father’s 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.
“How appropriate that Pope Francis died as Easter season begins,” said Bishop Joseph J. Tyson of the Diocese of Yakima, Washington. “The very season of spring serves as a backdrop for the renewal of creation initiated by Easter. In his teaching and his preaching Pope Francis leaves a legacy on our care for creation. More than most any other public figure, Pope Francis drew connections between our degradation of the environment, the migration crisis and global poverty. His passing at the beginning of Easter reminds us of Christ’s resurrection and ascension mission to renew the earth by following the teachings of Jesus and the witness of Saint Francis of Assisi. We will all sorely miss his voice on the world stage.”
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.
“Our Easter rejoicing is tinged with a bit of sadness as we say farewell to our beloved Pope Francis,” said Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv. “Our first Jesuit pope was divinely inspired to take the name of the poor man of Assisi, Francis, the patron saint of ecology. He certainly conveyed the spirit of Saint Francis in his powerful encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Fratelli Tutti as well as with all of his gestures and witness of closeness to the poor and the marginalized. With his characteristic joy, Pope Francis led us to take seriously the condition of our sister, mother earth, our common home and called us to conversion from our practices of exploiting and abusing the precious gift of God. He showed us how everything is interconnected and inspired us to work for greater fraternity within the human family and with all creation. He will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
“As the spiritual leader who guided our Church for 12 years, Pope Francis breathed new life into centuries of Catholic teaching,” said Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si’ Movement. “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.”
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. Laudato Si’ inspired the Laudato Si’ Movement, which Pope Francis named. This global movement is leading community-based initiatives across 140 countries. Over 10 million people have seen the organization’s documentary featuring Pope Francis and frontline leaders.