Overview

• Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Francis Prevost, was elected on May 8, 2025, becoming the first American pope in history.
• He has declared a global climate emergency, urging world leaders to prioritize action over rhetoric and calling for fossil fuel companies to transition to clean energy.
• The Vatican, under his leadership, has expanded solar power, introduced electric vehicles including an all-electric Popemobile, and recommitted to achieving carbon neutrality.
• Leo XIV has linked environmental degradation to social inequality, stating that care for the Earth and care for the poor are inseparable moral obligations.
• Vatican officials expect him to play a pivotal role at COP30 in Brazil, focusing on climate finance, biodiversity, and the protection of vulnerable communities.