Environment Encyclical

The Latest

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 and José María Del Corral, president of the Scholas Occurrentes youth movement, smile during a meeting with the group's volunteers in Cascais, Portugal, on Aug. 3, 2023.

‘Attend to the planet and poor,’ Pope Francis urges college students

Aug 3, 2023

By Shannon Mullen

Pope Francis began his second day in Portugal with a meeting with Catholic students and members of an educational youth... Read more

Boatmen in Guwahati Assam, India.

Vatican to mark 5th anniversary of Laudato si’ with year-long celebration

May 19, 2020

By Hannah Brockhaus

The Vatican will on May 24 launch a year-long celebration of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato si’ to mark its... Read more

Cardinal Turkson, Naomi Klein at the People and Planet First conference at the Patristic Institute Augustinianum in Rome, Italy on July 2, 2015.

Pope's encyclical forges unusual allies in fight for the environment

Jul 2, 2015

By Elise Harris

The Vatican recently added the voice of self-described “secular Jewish feminist” Naomi Klein to their discussion on the climate, signaling... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Receive new encyclical with 'open heart'

Jun 17, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Speaking one day before its official release to the public, Pope Francis is asking for people to have an “open... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square during the Wednesday general audience on Nov. 19, 2014.

Is climate change natural or man-induced? For Pope Francis, it’s both

Jun 15, 2015

By Elise Harris

One of the most challenging scientific questions Pope Francis faces in his new encyclical on creation is that of climate... Read more

Pope Francis greets pilgrims in St. Peter's Square after the Wednesday general audience, May 7, 2014.

Caring for creation is a duty for all, Pope says ahead of encyclical launch

Jun 14, 2015

By Elise Harris

Pope Francis said Sunday that his coming encyclical on the care of creation is not just for some, but is... Read more

Pope's environmental encyclical to be titled 'Laudato Sii' (Praised Be You)

May 31, 2015

By Elise Harris

Taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s “Canticle of the Sun” prayer praising God for creation, the likely name of the... Read more

Pope Francis at Saint Peter's Basilica on the feast of Pentecost, May 24, 2015.

Respect creation – this is a must for every single Christian, Pope Francis says

May 24, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Pope Francis used Sunday's feast of Pentecost – the descent of the Holy Spirit – as an occasion to remind... Read more

(CC0 1.0).

Pope's encyclical could have huge weigh-in on climate change talks

Apr 29, 2015

By Elise Harris

With experts and global leaders looking to Pope Francis as a moral compass, his upcoming encyclical on the environment could... Read more

Lake Mountain Mist Nature (CC0 1.0).

If you care about God's handiwork you'll protect nature, Pope says

Feb 9, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Set to finish his encyclical on the environment next month, Pope Francis said during his daily Mass at the Vatican... Read more