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Pope Leo XIV Presses for Tougher Climate Rules in Forceful Vatican Appeal

The first U.S.-born pope is leaning on the Church’s global reach to drive climate ambition ahead of COP30.

ALBANO LAZIALE, ITALY - OCTOBER 01: (EDITOR NOTE: STRICTLY EDITORIAL USE ONLY - NO MERCHANDISING). Pope Leo XIV delivers his speech during the International Conference "Raising Hope for Climate Justice" as part of the 10th Anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato Si, at Mariapolis Center at Castel Gandolfo on October 01, 2025 in Albano Laziale, Italy. Arnold Schwarzenegger, founder of the "Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative", joins Cardinal Jaime Spengler, President of the Brazilian Bishops' Conference and the Latin American Bishops' Council CELAM, Sister Alessandra Smerilli, Secretary of the Vatican Development Dicastery, and Maina Talia, Minister of the Interior and Environment of the island state of Tuvalu in the Pacific Ocean, for the climate conference on the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis' environmental encyclical "Laudato si'". The aim is to find the next steps towards ecological change in the light of the Church's magisterium. (Photo by Simone Risoluti - Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images)
Pope Leo XIV attends the International conference "Raising Hope for Climate Justice", in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV, center, attends the International conference "Raising Hope for Climate Justice", in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
Pope Leo XIV, center, attends the International conference "Raising Hope for Climate Justice", in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Overview

  • In his first major environmental address, Leo said NGOs and citizens must push leaders to adopt more rigorous regulations, procedures and controls.
  • He rebuked those who deride climate science and “ridicule those who speak of global warming,” calling for a “true ecological conversion.”
  • The three-day Rising Hope for Climate Justice gathering at Castel Gandolfo marks 10 years of Laudato Si’ and is set to issue a joint declaration and a new Laudato Si’ pledge for delivery to COP30.
  • Organizers report participation by hundreds to around 1,000 faith and civil-society leaders, with Arnold Schwarzenegger urging 1.4 billion Catholics to be “crusaders” who help “terminate pollution.”
  • Leo is backing Vatican renewable projects, including a large solar farm expected to make the city-state carbon-neutral, and underscored the message with a symbolic blessing of a block of ice.