Faith

The degree to which Pope Francis has engaged with the central debate in environmental thought over the past half a century — anthropocentrism versus eco- or biocentrism — has not been adequately recognized. 

In an interview broadcast in Italy Nov. 1, the pope had said he intended to go to COP28 next month, but the Vatican did not confirm the trip until Nov. 3. Pope Francis will travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to participate in the U.N. Climate Change Conference, the Vatican press office confirmed.

Pope Francis said he will attend the United Nations' COP28 climate change conference in Dubai next month, becoming the first pontiff to ever address such a high-level summit.

Water must be safeguarded and managed in a "wise, careful and sustainable way, so that everyone can enjoy it," Pope Francis said in a written message marking the Oct. 16 celebration of World Food Day, a commemoration sponsored by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Climate scientists say the science is sound in Pope Francis' new exhortation, Laudate Deum, and theologians applaud his "laser focus" on the climate crisis. But some also raise criticisms.

A new Public Religion Research Institute survey found that 31% of Hispanic Catholics, 22% of white mainline Protestants and 20% of white Catholics agree climate change is a crisis.

In Laudate Deum, Francis commends the U.S. bishops for having "expressed very well" in a 2019 declaration the "social meaning of our concern about climate change." Yet U.S. bishops are better known for activism that focuses on voicing opposition to abortion and LGBTQ rights efforts.