Spanish
Pope Leo XIV advocated this Wednesday for a "true ecological conversion" of the world and encouraged society to "pressure" governments to develop "stricter" laws and regulations in this matter.
He did it during his participation in the international conference 'Raising hope' organized in the Roman town of Castel Gandolfo to commemorate the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis' environmental encyclical, 'Laudato Si' (2015).
"Let us give thanks to our Father in heaven for this gift and this inheritance from Pope Francis. It is, in effect, challenges today even more current than ten years ago of a social, political and, above all, spiritual nature because they require a conversion," he said.
Leo XIV asserted that, along with the commitment to spread the message of this influential encyclical, "today it is more necessary than ever to return to the heart" because only in this way, he said, "can a true ecological conversion" of the contemporary world be given.
"It is necessary to move from data collection to care; from environmental speeches to an ecological conversion that transforms personal and community lifestyles," he insisted at the forum, which brought together activists such as actor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In this sense, he warned that "one cannot love the God who is not seen while despising his creatures" and that "one cannot be a disciple of Jesus Christ without sharing his view of creation and his care for what is fragile and wounded."
"May each of us be able to grow in these four directions: with God, with others, with nature, and with oneself, in an attitude of constant conversion," he augured.
On the other hand, the American and Peruvian pontiff recalled that his predecessor wrote that "the most effective solutions" to the climate crisis "would not come only from individual efforts but above all from major" global political decisions.
"Society, through non-governmental organizations and intermediary associations, must exert pressure on governments to develop stricter regulations, procedures, and controls," the Pope encouraged.
And he added: "If citizens do not monitor political power —national, regional and municipal—, it is not possible to counteract environmental damage."
Finally, Prevost expressed his wish that the upcoming international summits on this matter, such as COP30, the one of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) or the one the UN is preparing on water in 2026, "may listen to the clamor of the Earth, of the poor, of families, of indigenous peoples, of involuntary migrants and of believers around the world".
