EarthBeat Weekly: Bishops of the Global South, Pope Leo appeal for urgent climate action, ecological conversion

Bishops of the Global South, Pope Leo appeal for urgent climate action, ecological conversion Your weekly newsletter about faith and climate change July 11, 2025 Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass "for the care of creation" on the grounds of the Borgo Laudato Si' ecology center in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 9, 2025. (CNS/Cristian Gennari, pool) In the last two EarthBeat Weekly newsletters, I spoke of NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe's two-part series on the future of Laudato Si', which looked at the roles Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican as well as grassroot groups of Catholics around the world might play.  The news events of the first two weeks of July have offered concrete examples of both powerfully moving forward in the spirit of Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical. On July 1, bishops across the Global South issued an unprecedented appeal for stronger climate action — including an end to fossil fuels — at the U.N. climate conference, COP30, in Belém, Brazil, in November.  The 34-page letter is the first-ever joint appeal issued by the continental conferences of Catholic bishops in Latin America, Africa and Asia, representing 821 million Catholics.  "The Church will not remain silent. We will continue to raise our voice alongside science, civil society, and the most vulnerable, with truth and consistency, until justice is done," said the bishops. Read more: Bishops of Asia, Africa, Latin America unite in unprecedented climate appeal The next day, the Vatican released Pope Leo XIV's message for the 2025 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, celebrated later this year on Sept. 1. This is essentially the new pope's first statement dedicated to environment and climate issues. In it, he quoted Laudato Si' extensively while offering his most expansive reflection on the subject, including environmental justice:  "Environmental justice — implicitly proclaimed by the prophets — can no longer be regarded as an abstract concept or a distant goal. It is an urgent need that involves much more than simply protecting the environment. For it is a matter of justice — social, economic and human. For believers it is also a duty born of faith, since the universe reflects the face of Jesus Christ, in whom all things were created and redeemed. In a world where the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters are the first to suffer the devastating effects of climate change, deforestation and pollution, care for creation becomes an expression of our faith and humanity." Read more: Catholics must respond to environmental injustice with prayer, concrete action, pope says Then on July 3, the Vatican added a new Mass "for the care of creation" to the Roman Missal. According to Cardinal Michael Czerny, it is a response to "requests for a liturgical way of celebrating the meaning and the message of Laudato Si'."  Pope Leo XIV celebrated the new Mass for the care of creation for the first time July 9 in the gardens of the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, where to the accompaniment of chirping birds he said in his homily, "We must pray for the conversion of many people, inside and outside of the church, who still do not recognize the urgency of caring for our common home." Read more: Pope prays for conversion of those resisting climate action at new Mass     What else is new on EarthBeat:   Catholic solar projects in peril as GOP bill slashes clean energy tax credits by Brian Roewe For religious organizations, loss of the rebates jeopardizes financing options for clean energy projects and is expected to result in millions of dollars less in energy cost savings that could otherwise be reinvested in other church ministries and programs.   The new Mass 'for the care of creation' is a mixed bag by Daniel P. Horan I wonder whether the framing of the liturgy itself in instrumentalizing terms may unintentionally reinscribe problematic views of the relationship between the human and more-than-human world.   Cardinal criticizes reliance on coal for electricity in South Africa, calls for switch to renewable energy by Tawanda Karombo Cardinal Stephen Brislin said amid the threats of climate change that experts say is being fast-tracked by global warming brought about by carbon emissions, there is renewed hope for environmental and climate change awareness among young people in South Africa.   Environmental cuts in 'Big Beautiful Bill' alarm Catholic advocates by Kimberley Heatherington, OSV News The June 18, 2015, anniversary of Pope Francis' landmark environmental encyclical Laudato Si' coincided with proposals by Congress to defund America's clean energy investments and pollution reduction programs, sell public lands to industry, establish legal permitting detours for potential polluters, and eliminate federal subsidies for energy-efficient technologies, among other not-so-green actions.   After the flood: Grief, faith and a community holding on in Texas by Camillo Barone Two days after floodwaters tore through Kerr County, Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller installed the new pastor for Kerrville's Notre Dame Parish, in a Mass that was "a powerful sign of how God cares for his people."   In Texas region prone to catastrophic floods, questions grow about lack of warning by Paul Cobler, The Texas Tribune Water rose fast along the Guadalupe River, causing 68 deaths as of Sunday afternoon. Local officials said they couldn’t have seen it coming.   Death toll in Texas flash floods nears 70 as sheriff says 11 campers remain missing by Jim Vertuno, Julio Cortez, John Seewer, Associated Press Rescuers maneuvered through challenging terrain as a desperate search for the missing girls stretched into a third day after floodwaters surged into a summer camp. Texans were asked to pray that survivors would be found.   San Antonio Archdiocese asks for prayers after dozens perish in severe flooding in Texas by Lauretta Brown, OSV News At least 20 girls are missing from Christian camp along the Guadalupe River, which rose nearly 30 feet in less than an hour. Authorities confirm 24 dead, and expect more casualties.    5 things I'm doing to raise creation-keepers in my home by Elisa Johnston When my daughter told me recycling was a "white mom thing," I knew I was missing the mark on teaching her about why God calls us to care for creation. Here are 5 things I'm now doing differently.   What's happening in other climate news: Democrats and climate groups 'too polite' in fight against 'malevolent' fossil fuel giants, says key senator —Mark Hertsgaard for The Guardian Debate erupts over role job cuts played in weather forecasts ahead of deadly Texas floods —Michael Biesecker and Brian Slodysko for the Associated Press Intense downpours like those in Texas are more frequent, but there's no telling where they'll happen —Tammy Webber for the Associated Press Flood predictions could worsen when Trump's cuts take hold —Scott Waldman and Chelsea Harvey for Politico Trump hires scientists who doubt the consensus on climate change —Maxine Joselow for The New York Times Trump's first EPA promised to crack down on forever chemicals. His second EPA is pulling back. —Anna Clark for ProPublica    Going beyond grass: Turning lawns Into a pollinators' paradise —Karen Mockler for The Revelator   Final Beat: EarthBeat shared in 14 of the 70 Catholic Media Awards earned by National Catholic Reporter this year, with contributions to the packages of stories that received first place awards for Best Coverage — Political Issues, Best Coverage — Racial Inequities and Best Coverage of Ecumenical and Interfaith Issues.  EarthBeat's coverage of last year's U.N. climate change conference, COP29, also earned a first place award for Best News Writing Series — International Event. Both the written and video components of a reporting project completed with grant funding from Solutions Journalism Network for coverage of youth mental health earned recognition: first place for Best Reporting on a Special Age-Group — Young Adults (18-40) and an honorable mention for Best Use of Video on Social Media — Ongoing Series — Diocesan and National News Organizations. Earthbeat earned four awards in the Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues — Care for God's Creation category first place, third place, and two honorable mentions (one for news and one for commentary).  Also in the Best Reporting of Social Justice Issues section, EarthBeat earned honorable mentions for coverage of Call to Family, Community and Participation and Solidarity. NCR environment correspondent Brian Roewe earned an honorable mention for Writer of the Year. And this very EarthBeat Weekly newsletter earned second place for Best National Electronic Newsletter. Congratulations and thank you to everyone who supports our work sharing faith and climate stories!  Thanks for reading EarthBeat. Stephanie Clary Environment Editor National Catholic Reporter sclary@ncronline.org     Featured Advertisers   Looking to Hire? Offering Retreats? Selling Books? Place an Ad in NCR's Online Classified Section for Only $75 per Month!   Advertisement