environment

The Latest

Pope Francis on May 29, 2019.

Pope Francis: We cannot remain silent as planet is plundered

Jun 5, 2020

Pope Francis said Friday that people should not remain silent as biodiversity is threatened by destruction and exploitation in a... 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

Pope Francis and UN Secretary General António Guterres in the Vatican Apostolic Palace Dec. 20, 2019.

Pope Francis and UN Secretary General record video urging religious freedom, climate protection

Dec 20, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis and the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres recorded a video message together at the Vatican Friday in... Read more

Monks at Holy Cross Abbey screenshot 1.

Meet the monks who decided to go green years before Laudato Si

Nov 29, 2019

By Matt Hadro

Years before Pope Francis’ recent ecology encyclical was published, a Trappist monastery in Virginia went back to its spiritual roots... Read more

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Catholic Relief Services dismayed over US intent to leave Paris Climate Accord

Nov 6, 2019

Catholic Relief Services, the official charitable arm of the U.S. bishops, is expressing strong opposition to the Trump administration’s decision... Read more

A wooden cross in the rainforest. Stock photo via Shutterstock.

Church must convert from cultural, ecological sins, Amazon synod concludes

Oct 26, 2019

By Hannah Brockhaus, Courtney Mares

The Amazon synod final document, published Saturday, laid out the need to define “ecological sins” while calling the Church to... Read more

Church building overlooking smokestack.

EPA tells churches to cut mercury but says restrictions on power plants unnecessary

Oct 4, 2019

By Matt Hadro

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking houses of worship to eliminate mercury products, while at the same time saying... Read more

St. Francis of Assisi.

Will the real St. Francis please stand up?

Oct 4, 2019

By Matt Hadro

St. Francis of Assisi is widely known for his life of poverty and love of creation. But there’s a lesser-known... Read more

Massachusetts bishops say action is urgently needed on climate change

Sep 17, 2019

The bishops of Massachusetts warned in a new pastoral letter that climate change has reached a crisis level and requires... Read more

Pope Francis at the general audience in St. Peter's Square on Nov. 8, 2017.

Pope Francis announces ‘global village’ alliance for education, environment

Sep 12, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis announced Thursday his newest initiative to form an international and interreligious alliance, which he described as “global village”... Read more

Photo courtesy of the Center for Pollinators in Energy.

Catholic groups installing 5,000 solar panels in DC

Jul 23, 2019

By Christine Rousselle

Catholic organizations are installing 5,000 solar panels in a five-acre space in Washington, D.C., in what will become the largest... Read more

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California bishops call Catholics to 'ecological spirituality'

Jun 19, 2019

On the fourth anniversary of Laudato Si’, the bishops of California challenged the community to grow in an “ecological conversion”... Read more

Pope Francis in the gateway to Peru's Madre de Dios region in the Amazon January 19, 2018.

Amazon Synod to consider possible ordination of married men

Jun 17, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The working document for the special assembly of the Synod of Bishops for the Pan-amazonian region, released Monday, recommends study... Read more

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English bishop welcomes climate change report

May 7, 2019

The English and Welsh bishops' lead on environmental issues welcomed Thursday the publication of an advisory group's report encouraging the... Read more

Pope Francis.

Pope Francis: Capitalism must consider impact on humanity, environment

May 3, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis Friday offered a critique of captialism’s impact on the environment, calling for a response that hears “the cry... Read more

Pollution from a coal power plant.

Proposed changes to mercury regulations 'troubling,' bishops say

Mar 22, 2019

A proposal to ease regulations on mercury pollution levels in the air fails to show proper respect for human life... Read more

Pope’s Lenten message focuses on renewal of creation

Feb 26, 2019

By Courtney Mares

The redemption of creation takes center stage in Pope Francis’ Lenten message this year, which connects man’s sinfulness to environmental... Read more

Pope Francis at the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome Feb. 14, 2019.

Pope Francis: 'Inequality is disastrous for the future of humanity'

Feb 15, 2019

By Courtney Mares

Pope Francis spoke out about inequality, the environment, sustainable development and the elimination of poverty during his visit to the... Read more

Why Christians can criticize 'Green New Deal', but can't dodge 'green' politics

Feb 8, 2019

By Kevin J. Jones

A joint congressional resolution for a “Green New Deal” is the latest effort aiming to apply political solutions to environmental... Read more

Pope Francis addresses a conference on Laudato Si, July 6, 2018.

The world needs a change of heart on environmental issues, pope says

Jul 6, 2018

By Hannah Brockhaus

Christians have an important role to play in helping people have a change of heart and mind regarding responsible protection... Read more