Pope Leo XIV's past holds clues to his feelings about climate issues

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May 9, 2025

Pope Leo XIV waves to the crowds in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. (CNS/Vatican Media)

Cardinal Robert Prevost was not on EarthBeat's list of cardinals who were most likely to cast their votes for the next pope with climate in mind. However, since the US-born prelate was elected Pope Leo XIV on Thursday (May 8), we've learned a few things about his background as it relates to climate and other environmental issues.

Like many of the Catholic and environmental activists referenced in NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe's report today, I'm hopeful that our new pope will continue Pope Francis' ecological legacy.

Among those actions that suggest Leo XIV will take the climate crisis seriously are:

A 2015 tweet from Prevost urging people to sign a climate petition organized by the Laudato Si' Movement (then the Global Catholic Climate Movement) to collect 1 million Catholic signatures in support of a global climate deal that became the Paris Agreement.
A photo, posted to the same account, of Catholics at a climate march in Chiclayo, Peru, that year captioned by Prevost: "El planeta nos necesita" — "The planet needs us."
Comments Prevost made during a November 2024 conference at the Vatican, where he said, "Dominion over nature — the task which God gave humanity — should not become 'tyrannical.' It must be a 'relationship of reciprocity' with the environment," and that it was time to move "from words to action."

And to learn more about Pope Leo XIV, the first pope from the United States, check out the National Catholic Reporter's coverage from every angle in the feature series: Habemus papam: Pope Leo XIV

What else is new on EarthBeat:

No time to turn back on clean energy

by Bridget Moix, Religion News Service

There is broad public support for continuing bipartisan investments in the environment and green energy.

Pope Francis showed me that climate justice is connected to all I care about

by Kayla Jacobs

Laudato Si' opened my eyes to the fact that all injustices are made worse when you add the climate crisis.

Inspired by Laudato Si', sisters turn Francis' vision into ecological action

by The Life Panelists

We asked panelists: What can we learn through, from and for nature? What kind of threat does climate change pose to peace? What are you doing to change it? Responses reflect the living legacy of Pope Francis' love for creation.

These cardinals will likely consider the climate when casting votes for the next pope

by Brian Roewe

Since the birth of the modern environment movement in the 1970s, every pope has turned attention toward matters of ecology — whether pollution, biodiversity loss, deforestation or climate change.

How Pope Francis holds powerful sway over the 2025 conclave

by Brian Roewe, Heidi Schlumpf, Katie Collins Scott, Dan DeLorenzo

NCR analyzed the biographies, background, articles, speeches, homilies and media interviews of members of the College of Cardinals, to provide an in-depth look into the views of the men who will select the new pope.

What's happening in other climate news:

Trump administration plans to end Energy Star program for home appliances —Maxine Joselow for The Washington Post

The Black mothers behind one of the biggest environmental fights of the 20th century —Jessica Kutz for The 19th

Scientists just found a way to break through climate apathy —Kate Yoder for Grist

US will stop tracking the costs of extreme weather fueled by climate change —Alexa St. John for the Associated Press

Smoke from climate-fueled wildfires contributed to thousands of US deaths over 15 years, study says —Dorany Pineda for the Associated Press

Congress counters Trump with massive FEMA restructuring plan —Thomas Frank for E&E News

Final Beat:

On Friday evening (May 9), I'll be speaking on the global impact of Laudato Si' at The Well Spirituality Center's Praise Be! Ten Years of Laudato Si' event, where we'll commemorate the anniversary of Pope Francis' landmark encyclical with prayer, art, readings, music and reflection. If you are in the Chicago area, it's not too late to join us at Alexine Chapel in LaGrange Park.

With the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si' coming up on May 24, we at EarthBeat will be watching closely to see what Pope Leo XIV does (or does not do) to mark the occasion. If you know someone else who is wondering if the new pope will carry on Pope Francis' environmental legacy, forward them this newsletter so they too can sign up to receive all of NCR's faith and climate coverage.

Thanks for reading EarthBeat.

Stephanie Clary
Environment Editor
National Catholic Reporter
sclary@ncronline.org