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| Pope Francis Calls for Climate Action in Draft of Encyclical | Pope Francis Calls for Climate Action in Draft of Encyclical |
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| ROME — Pope Francis offers a broad vision of an endangered planet, partly blaming human activity and fossil fuels for climate change while calling for people of all religions to take swift action, according to a leaked draft of his much-awaited environmental encyclical that was posted online Monday by an Italian magazine. | ROME — Pope Francis offers a broad vision of an endangered planet, partly blaming human activity and fossil fuels for climate change while calling for people of all religions to take swift action, according to a leaked draft of his much-awaited environmental encyclical that was posted online Monday by an Italian magazine. |
| The unauthorized release of the 192-page draft, published by L’Espresso, angered officials at the Vatican, who warned that the document did not represent the final version of Francis’ encyclical, which remains embargoed from publication until Thursday. | The unauthorized release of the 192-page draft, published by L’Espresso, angered officials at the Vatican, who warned that the document did not represent the final version of Francis’ encyclical, which remains embargoed from publication until Thursday. |
| In the leaked document, Francis often writes eloquently, citing scientific evidence about the human role in global warming. He repeats some of his familiar themes in calling on people to move away from a consumerist model that he said is depleting resources, to the detriment of the poor, and live simpler lives. He also calls on governments to work together for solutions at the global, national and local level — while at times focusing on specifics, like his opposition to carbon credits. | In the leaked document, Francis often writes eloquently, citing scientific evidence about the human role in global warming. He repeats some of his familiar themes in calling on people to move away from a consumerist model that he said is depleting resources, to the detriment of the poor, and live simpler lives. He also calls on governments to work together for solutions at the global, national and local level — while at times focusing on specifics, like his opposition to carbon credits. |
| “In this encyclical,” he writes, “I intend especially to engage in a dialogue with everyone about our common home.” | “In this encyclical,” he writes, “I intend especially to engage in a dialogue with everyone about our common home.” |
| Encyclicals, papal teaching letters to the Roman Catholic faithful, often fail to generate much outside attention. But Francis’ pronouncement on the environment and the poor has been eagerly awaited, especially by scientists and environmentalists, as a major event. | Encyclicals, papal teaching letters to the Roman Catholic faithful, often fail to generate much outside attention. But Francis’ pronouncement on the environment and the poor has been eagerly awaited, especially by scientists and environmentalists, as a major event. |
| Seizing on the global interest, the Vatican prepared a careful rollout of the encyclical, which is titled “Laudato Sii,” or “Be Praised.” Bishops around the world have been sent instructions on how to spread the pope’s message to the world’s more than one billion Catholics. | Seizing on the global interest, the Vatican prepared a careful rollout of the encyclical, which is titled “Laudato Sii,” or “Be Praised.” Bishops around the world have been sent instructions on how to spread the pope’s message to the world’s more than one billion Catholics. |
| Journalists accredited with the Vatican are supposed to receive official copies on Thursday morning so they can review the contents before the embargo is lifted at midday, after a news conference. | Journalists accredited with the Vatican are supposed to receive official copies on Thursday morning so they can review the contents before the embargo is lifted at midday, after a news conference. |
| It was unclear how similar, or not, the final, official document will be to the leaked draft — or at what stage of the process the draft was written. The Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, released a short statement calling on the embargo to be respected, adding: “Please note that it is not the final text.” | It was unclear how similar, or not, the final, official document will be to the leaked draft — or at what stage of the process the draft was written. The Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, released a short statement calling on the embargo to be respected, adding: “Please note that it is not the final text.” |
| The drafting process has taken more than a year, as Vatican officials elicited contributions from priests, theologians, scientists, economists and others from around the world. In the interim, Francis has spoken about the need to protect “creation.” | The drafting process has taken more than a year, as Vatican officials elicited contributions from priests, theologians, scientists, economists and others from around the world. In the interim, Francis has spoken about the need to protect “creation.” |
| Speaking to reporters in January, Francis described global warming as “mostly” a human-made phenomenon and said that “man has slapped nature in the face.” | Speaking to reporters in January, Francis described global warming as “mostly” a human-made phenomenon and said that “man has slapped nature in the face.” |
| Environmentalists have wondered how Francis would address humans’ role in climate change, a point contested by many climate skeptics and some conservative Catholics. In one section, Francis writes: “Numerous scientific studies indicate that most of the global warming of the past decades is due to the concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and others), emitted especially because of human activities.” | Environmentalists have wondered how Francis would address humans’ role in climate change, a point contested by many climate skeptics and some conservative Catholics. In one section, Francis writes: “Numerous scientific studies indicate that most of the global warming of the past decades is due to the concentration of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxide and others), emitted especially because of human activities.” |
| He adds that the problem is compounded “by the development model based on the intensive use of fossil fuels that is at the core of the global energy model.” | He adds that the problem is compounded “by the development model based on the intensive use of fossil fuels that is at the core of the global energy model.” |
| In the draft, Francis begins with a hymn, “Canticle of the Creatures,” written by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century friar who dedicated his life to the poor and who is the patron saint of the environment. | In the draft, Francis begins with a hymn, “Canticle of the Creatures,” written by his namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th-century friar who dedicated his life to the poor and who is the patron saint of the environment. |
| The document is then divided into six chapters, with the first titled “What Is Happening in Our House?” It deals with a wide variety of issues, including climate change, pollution, water rights, the loss of biodiversity and global inequality. | The document is then divided into six chapters, with the first titled “What Is Happening in Our House?” It deals with a wide variety of issues, including climate change, pollution, water rights, the loss of biodiversity and global inequality. |
| In other chapters, Francis writes about the “wisdom of biblical accounts” (in a chapter titled the “Gospel of Creation”) and pointedly disputes the idea that population control and contraception are solutions to the planet’s limited resources. | In other chapters, Francis writes about the “wisdom of biblical accounts” (in a chapter titled the “Gospel of Creation”) and pointedly disputes the idea that population control and contraception are solutions to the planet’s limited resources. |
| In the third chapter, “The Human Root of the Ecological Crisis,” Francis explores how technology has changed the world, often in positive ways, but also has contributed to exploitation of the environment. | In the third chapter, “The Human Root of the Ecological Crisis,” Francis explores how technology has changed the world, often in positive ways, but also has contributed to exploitation of the environment. |
| “An economic and technological development that does not leave the world a better place and with an integral superior quality of life cannot be considered progress,” he writes in the fifth chapter. | “An economic and technological development that does not leave the world a better place and with an integral superior quality of life cannot be considered progress,” he writes in the fifth chapter. |
| Many analysts have expected the encyclical to double as an economic critique. In the draft, Francis describes the maximization of profit as a “conceptual distortion of the economy” that fails to consider the long-term damage to the environment. He also describes the aftermath of the global financial crisis in 2007-8 as a missed opportunity “to develop a new economy, more careful to ethical principles, and for a new regulation of speculative financial activities and virtual wealth.” | |
| He also calls for assertive government action, as well as better cooperation between governments, while saying progress has been too slow in addressing climate change. He notes that poorer countries will need help in confronting the challenge. | He also calls for assertive government action, as well as better cooperation between governments, while saying progress has been too slow in addressing climate change. He notes that poorer countries will need help in confronting the challenge. |
| “With regard to climate change, progress has been deplorably scarce,” he says. “The reduction of greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, especially by the most powerful and the most polluting countries.” | “With regard to climate change, progress has been deplorably scarce,” he says. “The reduction of greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, especially by the most powerful and the most polluting countries.” |
| Massimo Faggioli, an associate professor of theology and the director of the Institute for Catholicism and Citizenship at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic college in St. Paul, Minn., said Francis “has always been very consistent that there is a role for citizens, but there is also a role for government in solving problems, and even for global governance.” | Massimo Faggioli, an associate professor of theology and the director of the Institute for Catholicism and Citizenship at the University of St. Thomas, a Catholic college in St. Paul, Minn., said Francis “has always been very consistent that there is a role for citizens, but there is also a role for government in solving problems, and even for global governance.” |
| He added, “This will be particularly difficult for American Catholics,” referring to those Catholics who believe that the church teaches against relying on governments to solve social problems. |