Overview

• Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, is being remembered for his transformative climate advocacy, including the influential encyclicals Laudato Si (2015) and Laudate Deum (2023).
• His teachings framed climate change as a moral and social justice issue, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental stewardship and the plight of the poor and Indigenous communities.
• Laudato Si played a pivotal role in shaping global climate action, providing moral momentum that contributed to the 2015 Paris Agreement, while Laudate Deum criticized governments for inadequate progress on renewable energy transitions.
• The Trump administration’s ongoing rollbacks of environmental protections, including halting renewable energy projects and dismantling scientific agencies, contrast sharply with the late pope’s climate vision.
• The Laudato Si’ movement, inspired by Francis’s work, continues to mobilize globally, with 900 Catholic organizations and 10,000 animators driving grassroots environmental activism.