Pope Francis made his strongest statements yet about climate change Wednesday, rebuking fossil fuel companies and urging countries to make an immediate transition to renewable energy.

In a new document titled “Laudate Deum,” or “Praise God,” the pope criticizes oil and gas companies for greenwashing new fossil fuel projects and calls for more ambitious efforts in the West to tackle the climate crisis. In the landmark apostolic exhortation, a form of papal writing, Francis says that “avoiding an increase of a tenth of a degree in the global temperature would already suffice to alleviate some suffering for many people.”

“Laudate Deum” is a follow-up to the pope’s 2015 encyclical on climate change, known as “Laudato Si’,” which lamented the exploitation of the planet and cast the protection of the environment as a moral imperative. When it was released, “Laudato Si’” was viewed as an extraordinary move by the head of the Catholic Church to address global warming and its consequences.

Nearly a decade later, the pope’s message has taken on new urgency.

  • Queen HawlSera@lemm.ee
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    11 months ago

    This is part of the reason why I say that people who claim that church is anti-science, have never actually sat down and listened to the Pope.

    • Omega_Haxors@lemmy.ml
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      11 months ago

      Francis is just running damage control for the absolute fascist that last pope was.

  • MattTheProgrammer@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    When the Catholic Church stops covering up the rampant sexual abuse and money grubbing cash grab scam operations then maybe I’ll give two flying shits about what the Pope has to say.

    • MeanEYE@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      I love how you have good 25% down-votes as if there are people who cheer for more abuse. There’s no way they think it’s just a made up story for the 60000th time.

      • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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        11 months ago

        I love how you have good 25% down-votes as if there are people who cheer for more abuse.

        That’s not why they’re down-voting.