Climate change

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Pope Francis meets with participants of the conference “Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and the Sciences,” sponsored by the Pontifical Academies of Sciences and Social Sciences, held at the Vatican from March 14–15, 2024.

Pope Francis: Indigenous ‘ancestral wisdom’ a vital tool in fight against climate change

Mar 15, 2024

By Matthew Santucci

Pope Francis addressed his remarks to participants of the conference “Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge and the Sciences” at the Vatican on... Read more

The facade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy.

Climate activists vandalize St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy

Dec 8, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Climate activists vandalized the facade of the nearly 1,000-year-old St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy, on Thursday. Read more

Turin Cathedral.

Climate activists disrupt archbishop’s Mass in Turin

Dec 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Activists with the climate group Extinction Rebellion interrupted Mass at the Turin Cathedral on Sunday while reading aloud from the... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis signs interfaith climate statement as part of COP28 summit in Dubai

Dec 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

“Our faith instills in us a sacred duty to cherish not only our human family but also the fragile ecosystem... Read more

Pope Francis at his general audience on Nov. 22, 2023.

Pope Francis to COP28: Environmental destruction is ‘an offense against God’

Dec 2, 2023

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis canceled his scheduled trip to Dubai days before the climate summit at the request of his doctors. Read more

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America’s Catholics weigh in on Pope Francis’ climate change priorities

Dec 1, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

The pope’s foray into climate science variously draws both praise and consternation from Catholics in the U.S. Read more

Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Cardinal Parolin will represent Pope Francis at climate conference

Dec 1, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

The pope was advised by his doctors earlier this week not to travel to Dubai due to a bronchial infection. Read more

Pope Francis pictured on Nov. 27, 2023. The pope felt well enough to keep his scheduled appointment with the president of Paraguay on Monday morning as he recovers from the flu.

Vatican cancels Pope Francis’ trip to climate conference in Dubai, citing ongoing illness

Nov 28, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The Vatican indicated the Holy Father will still attempt to participate in the conference in some fashion. Read more

Pope Francis on Nov. 24, 2023, met with representatives, mayors, and religious leaders from areas in central Italy hit by devastating earthquakes between August 2016 and January 2017.

Pope Francis: More sustainable cities can help with population decline

Nov 24, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

“Putting the person back at the center of the city: This is the way forward,” Pope Francis said Nov. 24. Read more

Pope Francis received President-Designate of COP28 UAE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber on Oct. 11, 2023, at the Vatican.

Vatican releases schedule for Pope Francis’ trip to Dubai in December

Nov 9, 2023

By Courtney Mares

The pope will visit the United Arab Emirates’ most populous city Dec. 1–3 where he will give a speech and... Read more

COP28 logo.

Vatican joins interfaith declaration on fighting climate change

Nov 8, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Holy See has signed an interfaith declaration on taking action to protect the environment during a religious summit held... Read more

Pope Francis presides over his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Oct. 18, 2023.

Update: Pope Francis to attend COP28 climate change conference in Dubai in December

Nov 2, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis said in a TV interview he will travel to the United Arab Emirates for the second time from... Read more

Pope Francis received President-Designate of COP28 UAE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at the Vatican.

COP28 president-designate meets with Pope Francis to discuss common climate goals 

Oct 12, 2023

By Matthew Santucci

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber from the UAE met the pope on Wednesday at the Vatican ahead of the COP28 meeting... Read more

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Read some of the reactions to the pope’s ‘heartfelt appeal’ on climate change

Oct 5, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation on the environment and the threat of climate change was met with praise both by Catholic... Read more

Pope Francis smiles during his general audience in St. Peter's Square Sept. 27, 2023.

Pope Francis issues new call for dramatic climate change measures

Oct 4, 2023

By Daniel Payne

The pope wrote that the effects of climate change “are here and increasingly evident.” Read more

A forest fire rages on the Greek island of Corfu on July 24, 2023.

Pope Francis telegrams Greece and Italy to express concerns about wildfires and storms

Jul 31, 2023

By Daniel Payne

Recent wildfires devastated large parts of Greece and left several people dead while storms in Italy damaged buildings and caused... Read more

Laocoön and His Sons, Vatican Museums.

Vatican takes climate activists to trial for damage to base of famous statue in Vatican Museums

Mar 9, 2023

By Hannah Brockhaus

Guido Viero, 61, and Ester Goffi, 26, were ordered to appear before the Vatican City State’s tribunal on March 9. Read more

Pope Francis meets Arouna Kandé, one of the subjects of the documentary “The Letter.”

Climate change documentary features Pope Francis

Oct 4, 2022

By Hannah Brockhaus

Pope Francis is featured in a documentary film on climate change and the environment that premiered at the Vatican on... Read more

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Will Biden's Inflation Reduction Act work? Here's what cash-strapped families need to know

Aug 10, 2022

By Edie Heipel

The Inflation Reduction Act promises Americans relief from rising prices, but the massive $485 billion bill has drawn criticism from... Read more

Pope Francis speaking in St. Peter's Basilica on June 5, 2022.

Pope Francis: The poor suffer the most from heat waves, drought

Jul 21, 2022

By Courtney Mares

As Europe faces record high temperatures and summer wildfires, Pope Francis has pointed out that the poor suffer the most... Read more