EarthBeat Weekly: 'Climate change is real' and 'a road to death,' says pope

'Climate change is real' and 'a road to death,' says pope Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change May 24, 2024 Pope Francis greets Norah O'Donnell before an exclusive interview with the "CBS Evening News" anchor April 24 at the Vatican, for an interview ahead of the Vatican's inaugural World Children's Day. (OSV News/Courtesy of CBS NEWS) "Global warming is alarming" and "climate change is real," said Pope Francis in no uncertain terms during an hour-long primetime special aired on CBS May 20. Francis was interviewed by "CBS Evening News" anchor Norah O'Donnell about a range of issues facing the church and the world today, including war, migration, women deacons and climate change. Since the release of his landmark encyclical "Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home," in 2015, Francis has spoken about the state of planet Earth and our call to protect it with an increasingly urgent tone. He notably referred to "the climate crisis" in the subtitle to his apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum last October. During his interview with O'Donnell, Francis lamented, "Unfortunately, we've gotten to a point of no return. It's sad, but that's what it is. Global warming is a serious problem. Climate change at this moment is a road to death." Later in the interview, when O'Donnell asked about people who deny climate change, the pope responded "There are foolish people. And even if you show them the statistics, still the fool will not believe. Why? Generally, it is either because they don't understand the situation or out of a vested interest." NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe in his report on the interview noted that a December survey found 66% of U.S. Catholics say church teaching on care for the environment is important to them, yet U.S. Catholics rank environmental issues as of little importance in comparison to other issues facing the country. Francis confirmed to O'Donnell that he sees climate change as one of the principal challenges facing the world today. "Yes, because it is the future. It is life." Read more: In CBS interview, Francis calls climate change 'a road to death,' chastises 'foolish' deniers The Laudato Si' Movement's new executive director Susana Réfega agrees with the pope's assessment of climate change as a critical issue facing the world today. That's partly why she applied to lead the global network of more than 900 Catholic institutions working to address climate and other socio-environmental challenges worldwide. She sees this year's U.S. presidential election, as well as other elections this year such as in the European Union and India, as of significant consequence to the future of national and international climate work. Ahead of Laudato Si' Week (May 19-26), she spoke with EarthBeat about her own inspiration to become more involved in climate action, her development background witnessing to impacts of climate change and what priorities to expect from the Laudato Si' Movement in the future. Read more: Q&A with Laudato Si' Movement's Susana Réfega, on global elections, fossil fuel treaty and more     What else is new on EarthBeat:   Three Catholic bishops and a nun walk into the White House. Here's why it's no joke. by Archbishop John Wester, Religion News Service We commit grave harm against ourselves through environmental destruction and we go against God's plan for us.   We are all called to be contemplative. Our planet needs it. by Christina Leaño How can contemplation help us cultivate that interior peace that can be the foundation for right-relationship with ourselves, our God and each other, including creation?    Catholic aid group weighs in on House, Senate committees' dueling farm bills by Kate Scanlon, OSV News Lawmakers on the House and Senate agriculture committees released differing frameworks for the 2024 farm bill, with one version praised by a Catholic aid group.   New EPA drinking water standards may help US ensure access to safe water by Kimberley Heatherington, OSV News Approximately 46 million Americans don't have regular access to clean water. On April 10, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standards to protect Americans from exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."   Landslide forces closure of iconic Southern California chapel designed by Frank Lloyd Wright's son by Stefanie Dazio, Associated Press A decades-old landslide that’s rapidly accelerating has forced the dismantling of Wayfarers Chapel, an iconic Southern California church that was designed by one of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright's sons and built among soaring redwoods and sweeping Pacific Ocean views.   'Mary gardens' bring Catholic piety to the garden by Kayla Harris, Bridget Retzloff, The Conversation In the 20th century, an engineer from Philadelphia encouraged others to create their own Mary gardens and established a company that sold seeds with Marian plant names.   Sometimes I need to tell the story to remind me of who I am by Judith Best Trusting the energy of the adventure, I encountered the Holy Spirit "renewing the face of the Earth," teaching us how to live sustainably with the billions of years of development found in soil, sea and stars.   What's happening in other climate news: Trump attends Houston lunch to ask oil bosses for more campaign cash —Dharna Noor for The Guardian Democrats refer Big Oil investigation to Justice Department —Emma Dumain and Lesley Clark for E&E News Can climate change break the partisan logjam? —Mark Harris for Anthropocene California's first Black land trust fights climate change, makes the outdoors more inclusive —Tyrone Beason for the Los Angeles Times, photography by Brian van der Brug Graduating seniors seek degrees in climate change and more US universities deliver —Alexa St. John for The Associated Press From agriculture to AI: the remarkable world of soil —Francesca Merlo for Vatican News   Final Beat: EarthBeat's "Contemplation with Creation" summer blog series by Christina Leaño, associate director of Laudato Si' Movement, will explore questions like: How can contemplation be a way of deepening our relationship with God and creation? How can contemplation help us develop ecological habits, such as simplicity, humility and solidarity? How can contemplation help us cultivate interior peace that can be the foundation for right-relationship with ourselves, God and each other, including creation? How do you contemplate in the first place? Read the first essay in the series here. Sign up for the EarthBeat Reflections e-newsletter to receive each "Contemplation with Creation" essay in your inbox throughout the summer. Thanks for reading EarthBeat! Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org Instagram: @stephanieclaryncr     Featured Advertisers   Explore spirituality and social justice at Xavier University. Graduate theology degrees and certificates. Online options. Tuition discounts available.   Advertisement