First Ever Pontiff-to-Congress Address Sees Pope Francis Urge Environmental Action

Pope Francis took to Washington DC late last month to address a divided Congress on the importance of addressing climate change and environmental issues with immediate effect. As well as stressing the need to care for our planet, Francis also highlighted the importance of greater compassion when dealing with immigrants, an abolition of the death penalty and improved fiscal equality amongst human beings.

While the majority of the Pope’s recommendations seemed to fall more in favour with Democratic policies, he was careful to refrain from political terminology or the more aggressive language he has used in the past. Although his sentiments will undoubtedly be uncomfortable for some Republicans, hopefully, his words can help unite Congress and humanity as a whole and lead to a more just, safe and equal world.

The Church and Climate Change

For many years, the Catholic Church has refrained from wading into scientific politics – especially when so many of their tenets are directly in opposition. However, since Pope Francis entered his papal office two years ago, he has revolutionised the Church's stance on the environment. Instead of remaining silent on the issue, Francis has been one of the most vociferous supporters of affirmative action when it comes to climate change.

He once again reiterated his belief that we must take steps to curb human contribution to global warming – and take those steps now. “I call for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity,” he told Congress, in the first ever address by a pontiff to the joint body.

“I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States – and this Congress – have an important role to play. Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”

Critics of the Pope’s Stance

Those disgruntled Republicans mentioned above have not been shy in sharing their disagreement with the pontiff. Many individuals, such as Republican policy advisor Richard Trzupek, voiced their belief that man-made global warming was either exaggerated or completely invented by those with their own agendas.

“The modern-day environmental movement, as directed by the large environmental NGOs in developed countries, too often resembles the latter instead of the former, seducing millions of well-meaning people with the supposed noble opportunity to protect a planet from threats that are all too often non-existent or greatly exaggerated,” said Trzupek.

Meanwhile, spectators such as Marc Morano of the Climate Depot was concerned that the Pope was (willingly) being used as a mouthpiece for the environmental movement. “Regardless of his more toned-down climate talk to Congress, let there be no doubt that this pope is now serving as the chief religious lobbyist for man-made global warming and the United Nations,” said Morano. “This is a very ill-conceived role for any pope to play. It’s hard to say the pope is being used, because he is willingly allowing himself to be used by the media and by the U.N. as a climate lobbyist.”

Despite the discomfort of those individuals, Pope Francis has made his (and by extension, the Church’s) opinion on climate change and other key issues clearer than ever. With any luck, his message will resonate with the multitude of Catholics in the US and elsewhere and lead them to change their polluting and profligate ways.