Latest news with #LaudatoSi
Herald Malaysia
2 days ago
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Pope pledges prayers for Chinese Catholics
Pope Leo XIV called attention to two important events that fell on May 24: the day of prayer for Catholics in China and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment. May 27, 2025 Pope Leo XIV also called people's attention to the anniversary of Pope Francis signing Laudato Si' By Catholic News Service Pope Leo XIV called attention to two important events that fell on May 24: the day of prayer for Catholics in China and the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment. He also made two appointments: naming Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle the titular bishop of Albano, Italy, and designating Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah to be his envoy to celebrations on July 25-26 at the Shrine of Sainte-Anne-d'Auray in France. After praying the "Regina Coeli" with visitors in St. Peter's Square May 25, Pope Leo noted that the previous day was the feast of Mary Help of Christians, which Pope Benedict XVI had designated as the Day of Prayer for the Church in China. "In churches and shrines throughout China and around the world, prayers were offered to God as a sign of concern and affection for Chinese Catholics and their communion with the universal church," Pope Leo said. He prayed that through the intercession of Mary, all Catholics, but especially those in China, would receive "the grace to be strong and joyful witnesses of the Gospel, even in the midst of trials, so that we may always promote peace and harmony." Pope Leo also called people's attention to the anniversary of Pope Francis signing "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home." The encyclical, Pope Leo said, "has had an extraordinary impact, inspiring countless initiatives and teaching everyone to listen to the twofold cry of the Earth and of the poor." And, on the @Pontifex account on X, he posted: "Pope Francis' encyclical calls us to renew the dialogue on how we are building our planet's future, as we unite in the pursuit of sustainable and integral development, taking care to protect the common home entrusted to us by God." Naming Cardinal Tagle titular bishop of Albano, Pope Leo confirmed the tradition of the highest-ranking cardinals being technically associated with one of the seven suburbicarian dioceses on the outskirts of Rome. Initially, those seven bishops were among the closest advisers of the popes, and since 1059 they have been among the group of prelates who elect the popes. Pope Francis had named Cardinal Tagle a cardinal bishop in 2020 but without a suburbicarian diocese. Then-Cardinal Robert F. Prevost was named a cardinal bishop Feb. 6 by Pope Francis and given the titular diocese of Albano. Pope Leo also appointed Cardinal Sarah as his representative to celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the apparitions of St. Anne, mother of Mary, to Yves Nicolazic, a peasant farmer in Brittany in northwest France. Nicolazic said St. Anne asked him to build a shrine, which he did, and it attracts thousands of pilgrims each year. While popes often name special envoys to celebrations like that at Sainte-Anne-d'Auray, Pope Leo's naming of Cardinal Sarah, who often publicly criticized decisions made by Pope Francis, was seen as
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Seitz to launch Diocese environmental plan during special Mass on Sunday
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Bishop Mark J. Seitz will celebrate a special bilingual Mass Sunday, May 25 and will sign and inaugurate the Diocese's environmental action plan. The Mass will be at 11 a.m. May 25 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 930 E. Redd Road. The Mass will mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si', Pope Francis' landmark encyclical on care for 'our common home,' and the 800th anniversary of St. Francis of Assisi's 'Canticle of the Creatures,' the Diocese said. As part of this diocesan celebration, Seitz will officially sign and inaugurate the Laudato Si' Action Plan for the Diocese of El Paso. 'This new plan will guide the local Church's commitment to the values of Laudato Si' and Laudate Deum, deepening efforts toward environmental stewardship and solidarity with the poor across all ministries and institutions,' the Diocese said. The Mass will bring together representatives from local parishes, Catholic organizations, and environmental advocacy groups, including the Care for Creation Ministry at St. Luke, the Texas Chapter of the Laudato Si' Movement, and New Mexico–El Paso Power and Light, the Diocese said. 'Pope Francis reminds us that care for the Earth is inseparable from care for the most vulnerable,' Seitz said. 'This plan invites every person, parish, and diocesan structure to reflect on our impact and take real steps to live more sustainably and faithfully.' Released on May 24, 2015, Laudato Si' called for an 'integral ecology' that recognizes the deep connections between the environmental crisis and global inequality, the Diocese said. In 2023, Pope Francis continued this message with Laudate Deum, which addressed the growing climate emergency and the moral urgency of collective action. The Diocese's new action plan will provide tools and guidance for all Catholics to engage in concrete steps, the Diocese said. These actions can include creating special ministries, evaluating use of resources and adopting sustainable practices, the Diocese said. The Laudato Si' Diocesan Action Commission is available to assist parishes and organizations looking to implement or expand environmental initiatives, the Diocese said. For more information, contact laudatosicommissiondep@ Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Forbes
Pope Leo XIV On Climate, Leadership On Justice And Sustainability
Pope Leo XIV on climate – from solar panels to social justice, the Vatican's new leader is expected to pick up Pope Francis's 'green' mantle. When white smoke rose above St. Peter's Basilica earlier this month, one of the first questions on environmental advocates mind was whether he would continue to champion for the causes his predecessor had. As it turns out Pope Leo XIV, formerly Father Bob Prevost, made his ideas about the environment and justice clear in his first homily as Pontiff. 'In this our time, we still see too much discord, too many wounds caused by hatred, violence, prejudice, the fear of difference and an economic paradigm that exploits the earth's resources and marginalizes the poorest,' the pope said . Later, he called for a 'unity which does not cancel out differences but values the personal history of each person and the social and religious culture of every people.' Pope Leo has taken bold positions in his first days, particularly on climate change, clean energy, and environmental justice. He is building on the moral and theological foundation laid out in Laudato Si', the landmark 2015 encyclical that made care for creation a core issue of Catholic social teaching. Pope Francis's Laudato Si', subtitled 'On Care for Our Common Home,' was a groundbreaking text that wove environmental concern into the fabric of Catholic theology. It introduced the concept of integral ecology. This is a view of the world where social, environmental, and economic issues are interdependent and must be addressed together. His thinking made its way into global climate negotiations and was cited in multiple UN climate documents. Because the book and the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals came out at the same time, they are viewed as complementary to one another. Their similarities have been discussed in many fora and Pope Francis spoke on the theme of a 'common home' in his addresses to the UN in 2015 and 2024. Pope Leo XIV has made clear that Laudato Si' remains the foundation for his papacy's approach to environmental stewardship. 'We cannot separate our treatment of the Earth from our treatment of the poor,' he said in a recent Vatican address. 'They suffer together when we choose exploitation over responsibility.' In speeches and interviews, Leo XIV has raised concern over the unchecked growth of technological development and market-driven environmental harm. He warns that profit motives, when left unregulated, often drive decisions that damage creation and deepen inequality. Pope Leo is not necessarily dismissing science or innovation. He has also noted the benefits to humanity that technology and innovation can bring. Instead, he is say that their development be 'disciplined by justice, guided by wisdom, and tethered to the common good.' This line of critique echoes catholic teaching, but also aligns with secular calls for stronger climate regulation, sustainable tech design, and corporate accountability. One of his first acts as pope was to declare that the world is in a 'global climate emergency,' urging leaders to 'move from words to action.' He has pressed fossil fuel companies to transition their portfolios and publicly endorsed clean energy investment. In his own backyard, the Vatican is leading by example. The City-State has expanded its use of solar power, added electric vehicles to its fleet—including the first all-electric Popemobile—and recommitted to becoming carbon-neutral. These changes build on Pope Francis's early green Vatican initiatives but go further in implementation. 'Symbolism is not enough,' Leo said in a pre-election speech. 'To be stewards of the Earth, we must be accountable in our choices—starting with our own.' Pope Leo XIV has been careful to avoid framing environmental protection as dominion. Instead, he advocates a 'relationship of reciprocity' with the natural world. Quoting Genesis, he often reminds audiences that dominion over creation does not mean exploitation—it means care and responsibility. This is a subtle but significant shift. In Catholic Social Thought, humans are stewards of creation, tasked with preserving it not just for future generations but as a reflection of divine order and justice. Pope Leo emphasizes that this must be an active stewardship, or what some might call climate leadership rooted in moral responsibility rather than political pressure. His critics within and outside the Church might see this as overreach. One side may be concerned his reach into secular territory. Others may react to policy and legal imperatives coming from the Catholic Church. For Pope Leo, this is about a simple truth: 'The Earth is not ours to waste." According to former parishioners and other speeches from the new pope, the Church's new leader sees no daylight between environmental degradation and inequality. Pollution, water scarcity, and climate-driven disasters disproportionately affect the poor. As such, Pope Leo has spoken out about the moral imperative to link environmental policy with anti-poverty measures. This holistic approach aligns closely with today's global environmental justice movement, which centers the needs and experiences of frontline communities. By rooting these goals in Catholic theology, Pope Leo offers a powerful bridge between faith traditions and modern environmental advocacy. His message is already resonating across those schools of thought. As one commentator put it in Bloomberg Opinion: 'Pope Leo XIV might be the climate champion we need—someone who speaks in moral absolutes about a crisis that has, for too long, been debated in economic half-measures. Pope Leo XIV on climate is expected to be a continuing theme in international climate dialogues, much like his predecessor addressed the UN General Assembly and COP21 in Paris. Already, Vatican officials suggest he will be a key moral voice at COP30 in Brazil, particularly on the topics of climate finance, land rights, and biodiversity protection. With the Vatican's unique status as both a religious and political entity, Leo has the ability to shape conversations across sectors, appealing not just to world leaders but to the 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide—and many more who view the Church as a moral compass. As the world barrels toward COP30 and other critical inflection points, Pope Leo XIV's message is clear: climate change is not only a scientific or political issue—it is a spiritual crisis, demanding a faithful, urgent, and just response.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pope Leo Could be the Planet's Pope
On May 8, the Catholic Church elected Robert Francis Prevost, as its first American leader. The planet and the people are in desperate need of moral healing, and there are promising signs that Pope Leo XIV just may be the voice of clarity that we need. I am a lifelong Catholic, with a family history in the Church going back through generations to Italy, Ireland, and Germany. My faith runs strong. I am also the co-director of Taproot Earth, a frontline climate justice organization. While we are not a Catholic organization, and our staff is made up of people with varying religions, our faith has played a big part in our personal commitments to climate justice. For me, I was taught, through 16 years of Catholic education, that God is in all things. That means that God is in the air, the water, the Earth. God is also present in the poor and the neglected. That makes the climate crisis — which hits marginalized communities hardest — an affront to God's Being. By the same token, it means that fighting for climate justice is the Lord's work. There is reason to believe that Pope Leo shares in that vision. For one thing, he's spoken in support of Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si', which laid out the Catholic case not just for climate action but for climate justice. In November, he took it even further, advocating for a more reciprocal relationship with the environment and stressing that it is time for the world to move from 'words to actions' in combating climate change. Pope Leo also has a history of speaking out against the rise of artificial intelligence. In fact, he used his first formal address as pope to raise the alarm over the threat of AI to 'human dignity, justice, and labor.' While he did not expressly mention it in his comments, artificial intelligence is also a grave threat to the planet and a major contributor to the pollution that fuels the climate crisis. But perhaps most importantly, Pope Leo's time in South America has brought him face to face with the realities and heartbreak of climate injustice. In 2017, when El Nino brought catastrophic flooding to Peru, the then-Bishop put his actual boots on the ground. He mobilized the Church, coordinated with local businesses, and got his own hands dirty to help people who were stranded by the water. Pope Leo understands the power of the Church in times of crisis. For me, that is immensely important. While I am a lifelong Catholic, there have been times where I struggled with the Church and its many scandals and hypocrisies. However, I have not given up my faith nor ignored the power and position the Church holds. That's why Taproot Earth, among other organizations, has put a great deal of work into bringing the might of the Catholic Church to the fight for climate justice. We started our work with the Church in earnest in 2023 around the issue of climate reparations. We wanted the Church to confront its role in the root causes of climate change: colonialism, slavery, and capitalism. From there, we wanted the Church to embrace its responsibility to lead the way to climate reparations. I am happy to say that we found a receptive audience among leaders within the Church. After meeting with some of Pope Francis' advisors and advocates, we facilitated the Frontline People's Jubilee Convening in Rome in March of this year with the goal of bringing to the Church the voices and stories from the frontlines about the need for climate reparations. At the convening, we heard from people from 24 countries and in six different languages, and we charted a multi-faith course toward climate justice and accountability. I am hopeful — and more importantly faithful — that we can bring those stories to Pope Leo to further advance this work. It bears mentioning that Pope Leo, as the successor to Pope Francis, has enormous shoes to fill. Pope Francis led the Church in new and exciting ways. In addition to his groundbreaking 2015 encyclical, he completely revolutionized the way that decisions were made in the Vatican, appointing women to decision-making posts and created pathways for marginalized people to have their voices heard. He opened the door for the blessing of same-sex unions. By leading from the foundational Christian values of love, mercy, and joy, he showed the world that change is possible, even within a 2,000-year-old institution. While there are signs that Pope Leo might be more conservative than Pope Francis, I still have reason to hope that he might indeed be more radical. After all, most people didn't expect Pope Francis to be the spiritual and social catalyst that he was. One of the most important ways that Popes signal the way they plan to lead is by the name they choose upon their election. The name Leo is one of humility or, as some might say, meekness. As the Beatitudes teach us, blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. If Pope Francis was the People's Pope, perhaps Pope Leo can be the Planet's Pope. Pope Leo need not walk on water, but rather continue on the path Pope Francis already laid out. Anthony Giancatarino is the Strategy Partner at Taproot Earth, a global climate justice organization rooted in the Gulf South and Appalachia More from Rolling Stone Trump Admin Plans to Delay, Eliminate Limits on 'Forever Chemicals' in U.S. Drinking Water The Internet Is Already Awash With Unhinged Pope Leo XIV Merch 'SNL' Weekend Update Shuts Down 'Woke' Pope Complaints, Trashes Trump's Alcatraz Revival Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence
Herald Malaysia
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Herald Malaysia
Bishops of Africa and Europe: 'Africa does not need charity but justice'
Before the EU Foreign Ministers meet next week, the two conferences stress the need to shift back to 'partnership grounded in mutual respect, environmental stewardship, and the centrality of human dignity.' May 16, 2025 Logo for SECAM - the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar By Kielce GussieAhead of the European Union Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 21, the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) and the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Union (COMECE) issued a joint statement raising concerns about 'a profound shift in European priorities.' From five years ago to today… Half a decade ago, SECAM and COMECE stressed that they were 'firmly convinced' that Europe and Africa had the potential to reinvigorate 'multilateral cooperation by reinforcing their longstanding ties marked by our common roots and geographical proximity.' However, in their statement issued on May 15, the two Bishops' Conferences highlight their worry that the attention has shifted 'away from solidarity with the most fragile regions and communities' and towards 'a more narrowly defined set of geopolitical and economic interests.' At what expense? Priorities seem to have changed to the 'patterns of the past' – a return to placing 'European corporate and strategic aims over the real needs and aspirations of African people.' This means the basic foundations of life – land, water, seeds, and minerals – have once again become commodities 'for foreign profit.' The African continent is therefore being made to put its ecosystems and communities at risk to support Europe's decarbonisation objectives through land agreements marketed as being part of 'green' energy projects or shifting the burden of industrial agriculture's toxic inputs and waste to other regions. The statement from SECAM and COMECE emphasizes that this current situation 'is not partnership. This is not justice.' Pope Francis' legacy lives on Recalling Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si' , the Bishops' Conferences call to mind the 'cry of the earth and the cry of the poor,' which are 'loud and clear across Africa.' It points out the injustice African countries are facing as a result of the imbalance in the relationship between them and Europe. COMECE and SECAM highlight the effects of climate change, loss of biodiversity, and soil degradation and how hunger is growing on the African continent, not 'because we lack food, but because we have allowed systems to dominate that put profit above people.' A call for change The two conferences urge the EU Foreign Ministers, who will meet on May 21 in Brussels, to put the 'dignity of African peoples at the heart of the African Union (AU)-European Union (EU) partnership.' They highlight the need to protect and promote farmer-managed seed systems, which are 'the key to food sovereignty.' To conclude, the COMECE and SECAM statement becomes a call to action with specific examples of how to go from abstract to concrete. They advocate 'for an immediate ban on the export and use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides in Africa.' They point out the injustice that chemicals which are banned in Europe are still made and sold to African farmers. 'This double standard must end.' The statement offers many suggestions on how to better care for and respect the African continent and its ecosystem. But they emphasize that 'Africa does not need charity' rather, it requires justice and 'a partnership grounded in mutual respect, environmental stewardship, and the centrality of human dignity.' To do this, COMECE and SECAM call for the AU and EU ministers to 'rise to this moment' and listen more attentively to the African civil society, Indigenous peoples, and faith communities 'not as token participants, but as equal co-creators of policy.'--Vatican News
