The late pope's radical stance on climate justice and poverty

Pope Francis was a pioneering voice who melded science and spirituality as he championed dignity

- By Julia Evans

Pope Francis, who died on 21 April, was a pontiff of many firsts: the first from Latin America, the first pope from the southern hemisphere, the first Jesuit to lead the Catholic Church, and the first born outside Europe since the eighth century.

But perhaps his greatest influence was in shaping how he spoke about climate change. Francis framed global warming as a matter of justice, inequality and human dignity.

His 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ (Praise Be to You) — an open letter from the pope to the global Catholic community and all people of goodwill — not only addressed environmental degradation, but also criticised overconsumption, economic inequality and moral indifference, presenting the climate crisis as a profound moral and spiritual issue.

In it, he unabashedly states: “The Earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” It remains one of the most cited lines in climate discussions, frequently referenced in academic articles, in media coverage and in environmental commentary.

From the outset, Pope Francis signalled his priorities. “When the pope was selected, he chose his papal name to honour St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology and of animals, as well as a man of peace who renounced wealth,” noted Francesca de Gasparis, executive director of the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute.

“He was globally the most imminent faith leader to stand up for climate justice.”

Francis, who studied chemistry before becoming a priest, grounded his arguments in science. He wrote that there was “very solid” scientific consensus that human activity was driving warming. He called for faith and science to work together, saying the environmental crisis was both a spiritual and scientific challenge.

Global and political influence