Jakarta — Pope Francis, the head of the Roman Catholic Church and a leading moral voice on global issues, died on Monday, April 21, at the age of 88.
The first pontiff from the Global South, Francis will be remembered for his reformist approach to the Church and for making environmental stewardship a core concern of Catholic teaching. His 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ marked a turning point in papal doctrine, framing climate change and ecological degradation as ethical crises that must be addressed through social justice and solidarity.
“The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth,” he said in the encyclical. “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her,” he said, personifying the Earth as a “sister” crying out in pain.
In Laudato Si’, Francis introduced the concept of “integral ecology”—a framework that connects the planet’s health with the well-being of humanity, particularly the world’s most vulnerable. He called for an “ecological conversion,” urging Catholics and global citizens alike to reexamine their relationship with nature and embrace sustainable lifestyles.
His commitment deepened with the release of Laudate Deum in 2023, a follow-up exhortation warning of the dire consequences of climate inaction. In it, the Pope condemned climate change denial and criticised the slow pace of the transition from fossil fuels, demanding stronger international efforts to safeguard the planet for future generations.
“With the passage of time, I have realised that our responses have not been adequate, while the world in which we live is collapsing and may be nearing the breaking point,” he wrote in Laudate Deum.
Beyond his writings, Francis spearheaded concrete initiatives within the Vatican, including plans to build a solar farm to make the Holy See energy self-sufficient.
Through his outspoken leadership on climate, poverty, and justice, Pope Francis leaves behind a legacy that transcends religion—one that has inspired millions across the world to see caring for the environment as a sacred duty. (nsh)
Banner photo: Pope Francis during a visit to Kazakhstan, 14 September 2022. Yakov Fedorov/Wikimedia Commons
