EarthBeat Weekly: Laudato Si' is 10. Catholics in Appalachian Kentucky emerge as leaders in living its teachings

Laudato Si' is 10. Catholics in Appalachian Kentucky emerge as leaders in living its teachings Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change May 23, 2025 Students at St. Leo Catholic School in Versailles, Kentucky, hold a "Laudato Si' Our Common Home" banner. (Courtesy of Lexington Diocese) Tomorrow, May 24, marks 10 years since Pope Francis signed his landmark ecological encyclical "Laudato Si', On Care for Our Common Home." If you're wondering why we're celebrating the anniversary with Laudato Si' Week from May 24–31 when the official letter wasn't available to read until June 2015, you're not alone. Five years ago, Carla Gregorio of the Wyoming Catholic Crisis Coalition asked EarthBeat: "Laudato Si' was released in June 2015, I believe. Why is the anniversary celebrated on May 24?"  NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe explained where this confusion comes from in our "Burning Question" series. In short, Francis signed the letter on May 24, Pentecost Sunday that year. But it wasn't until June 18 that it was released to the world.  (If you have a question about climate change and religion smoldering in your mind, let us know by emailing earthbeat@ncronline.org with the subject line "Burning Question.") One U.S. diocese set its own Laudato Si' efforts in motion on Pentecost Sunday last year when Bishop John Stowe issued a letter to the Diocese of Lexington, Kentucky, saying, "We need to begin to live and act as responsible stewards of this planet and in right-relationship with all our sisters and brothers in creation. And we need the help of the Holy Spirit to do so." The diocese in eastern Kentucky, amid Appalachia's coal country, had already announced plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030, and in his Pentecost letter Stowe asked each parish also to devise individualized plans to apply the teachings of Laudato Si' at the local level, reported Roewe. Those plans were due to the diocese by last Oct. 4, the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. A decade after the encyclical's release, some think this may be the best example yet of how a diocese — and a bishop — can take Francis' charge to care for creation seriously and implement the challenges of Laudato Si' in meaningful ways at every level of that local church. Alonso de Llanes, program manager for the Vatican's Laudato Si' Action Platform initiative, called the approach in Lexington "one of the most comprehensive and inspiring examples of ecclesial commitment to integral ecology that we've seen globally." What is happening in Lexington, de Llanes said, "shows how an entire diocesan community can discern, act and journey together toward ecological conversion." Read more: In Kentucky coal country, Laudato Si' call takes shape in parish environmental plans     What else is new on EarthBeat: 'A pope in muddy boots': Viral photos of Leo XIV reveal a history of pastoral care by Brian Roewe Photos of "a pope in muddy boots" began circulating on social media shortly after Cardinal Robert Prevost was introduced as Pope Leo XIV. The story behind the images tells of a pastor in close kinship with his community.     With Laudato Si', Pope Francis firmly planted ecology into Catholic social teaching by Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service Dated May 24, the solemnity of Pentecost in 2015, the document, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," presented the core of his teachings on integral ecology, its principles and practical applications.     US bishops urge young people to 'lead the way' on climate crisis by Kate Scanlon, OSV News In a letter to mark the 10th anniversary of the late Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', U.S. bishops have urged young people to "lead the way" on the climate crisis.     As Laudato Si' turns 10, experts urge greater response to pope's urgent message on climate by Kimberley Heatherington, OSV News     Bishop hopes Pittsburgh's first parish to go solar will light the way for others by Theresa Doerfler Even though Western Pennsylvania has fewer sunny days than other parts of the U.S., the 170 solar panels on the roofs of the school, church and rectory buildings will generate more than 90% of their electricity needs.     Catholic bishops call for mutual respect, environmental justice in Africa-EU relations by Frederick Nzwili, Religion News Service African and European bishops say European leaders are prioritizing their own countries' benefits from African land deals, ahead of creating a system that is equitable and positive for African communities.      With a massive ark and museum, he spreads creationism a century after Scopes trial. He’s not alone by Peter Smith, Associated Press "That's what we wanted to do through many of the exhibits, to show the feasibility of the ark," says Ken Ham, the organizer behind the Ark Encounter theme park and related attractions.     What's happening in other climate news: Tariffs, Congress set to shake up US solar industry —Christa Marshall for E&E News Anti-clean energy provisions in Trump's budget bill could raise household energy costs —Emily Atkin for HEATED Senate votes to block California's rule banning the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035 —Mary Clare Jalonick and Sophie Austin for the Associated Press Federal judge orders trump administration to restore environmental grant funding —Amy Green for Inside Climate News Trump officials allow massive New York offshore wind project to restart —Jake Spring for the Washington Post  Surviving occupation in a climate-changed West Bank —Yessenia Funes for Atmos How tech companies could shrink AI's climate footprint —Emily Kwong, Regina G. Barber, Hannah Chinn and Rebecca Ramirez for NPR Ghana to host third Laudato Si' Youth Assembly —Gabriel Asempa Antwi - Accra for Vatican News   Final Beat: As we wait to see how Pope Leo XIV might mark the Laudato Si' 10-year anniversary, many are optimistic the new pontiff will continue a strong focus on care for the planet and all that depend on it for life.  You may have seen some photos of him floating around the internet as Cardinal Robert Prevost standing in Peruvian floodwaters. We wanted to know the backstory to those photos. Staff at Caritas Peru who were there at the time the photos were taken helped tell the story. Read more about the viral "pope in muddy boots" photos and what they reveal about Leo's past in Brian Roewe's report here. Thanks for reading EarthBeat. Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? 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