Pope Francis made his strongest statements yet about climate change Wednesday, rebuking fossil fuel companies and urging countries to make an immediate transition to renewable energy.

In a new document titled “Laudate Deum,” or “Praise God,” the pope criticizes oil and gas companies for greenwashing new fossil fuel projects and calls for more ambitious efforts in the West to tackle the climate crisis. In the landmark apostolic exhortation, a form of papal writing, Francis says that “avoiding an increase of a tenth of a degree in the global temperature would already suffice to alleviate some suffering for many people.”

“Laudate Deum” is a follow-up to the pope’s 2015 encyclical on climate change, known as “Laudato Si’,” which lamented the exploitation of the planet and cast the protection of the environment as a moral imperative. When it was released, “Laudato Si’” was viewed as an extraordinary move by the head of the Catholic Church to address global warming and its consequences.

Nearly a decade later, the pope’s message has taken on new urgency.

    • angrystego@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      9 months ago

      Ok, abortion ban in Poland. Also the fight against lgbt in Poland - which is one reason why this news is really interesting. It can cause a divide among catholics, which can be desirable.

        • angrystego@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          9 months ago

          I’m not saying he influences politics directly, I’m saying he influences the way the vast population of worldwide catholics think. So the influence is indirect but major.

          In case of Poland, I think the government feels like it’s safe to go with such a radical policy because they know most of the population obliges the will of the church, which is anti-choice. The same goes for the lgbt discrimination. I think now that the pope started speaking a bit lgbt friendlier, the public opinion might start to be more divided, which will hopefully mean the topic will be less of a safe bet for populists.

          Let me add that I too appreciate you discussing with me peacefully, I’m actually having quite a nice time, which is a rare experience when it comes to online politics.