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5d ago

Pope Francis’s Death Sparks Reflection on His Transformative Ecological Vision

The Vatican prepares for a conclave to elect a new pope as the Church mourns the leader who made ecology central to Catholic teaching.

Le pape François préside une messe dans la basilique Saint-Pierre au Vatican, le 1er janvier 2025.
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Overview

  • Pope Francis passed away on April 21, 2025, concluding a 12-year pontificate that redefined Catholic social teaching through his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’.
  • Laudato Si’ marked a doctrinal shift, integrating ecological ethics with social justice and recognizing the scientific consensus on climate change.
  • The encyclical influenced global climate action, urging leaders at COP21 and COP27 to honor the Paris Agreement and limit warming to 1.5 °C.
  • Francis institutionalized environmental stewardship within Church governance by establishing the Dicastery for Integral Ecology.
  • The upcoming conclave in early May will determine how the Church continues Francis’s legacy of linking care for the planet with justice for the poor.