– Pope Francis’s Environmental Legacy
– Laudato Si’ and the Church’s Climate Advocacy
– Faith-Based Approaches to Climate Justice
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, was a pivotal figure in integrating climate justice into the core teachings of the Catholic Church. From the onset of his papacy in 2013, he emphasized the moral and ethical dimensions of environmental stewardship, urging global leaders and the faithful to recognize the interconnectedness of ecological degradation and social injustice. His 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, underscored the concept of “integral ecology,” highlighting how environmental and social crises are deeply intertwined and must be addressed collectively.
Further solidifying his commitment, Pope Francis released Laudate Deum in 2023, an apostolic exhortation calling for urgent action against the climate crisis. He criticized the lack of adequate responses to environmental challenges and emphasized the need for a unified global effort to protect our common home citeturn0search12. His leadership not only influenced international climate negotiations but also inspired faith-based environmental movements worldwide, leaving a lasting legacy that bridges faith and science in the pursuit of climate justice.
