Pope Francis letter on climate change leaked: Draft Vatican encyclical released three days early
The letter has been regarded as a calm to arms to tackle climate change
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The draft of a much-anticipated encyclical on climate change by Pope Francis has been leaked to an Italian newspaper.
The momentous letter from the Pope to Catholic churches on "the care of the common home" was sent to Italian magazine L'Espresso, three days after it was intended to be published
Over 200 pages, Pope Francis builds on concern for the environment expressed by previous Popes, and preaches that humans have used the Earth irresponsibly and have become detached from the planet.
Citing a similarly pivotal encyclical by Pope John XXIII during the Cold War urging for peace, Pope Francis addresses "every person who lives on this planet" to engage with the issue of climate change.
"Climate change [...] constitutes one of the main current challenges for humanity," Pope Francis warns.
In a segment characteristic of his concern for the poor, the Holy See goes on to argue that developing countries will bear the brunt of the resulting issues which were caused by "the enormous consumption of some rich countries."
Pope Franics also stresses that the destruction of the environment is wrong not only because God entrusted us with the Earth, but because human life itself must be protected through lifestyle changes.
The document - which is the first Pope Francis has written - features six chapters and two prayers. It will be presented to a press conference by Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Metropolitan John Zizioulas of the Orthodox Church, and - most controversially - Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, a professor at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, according to The Sunday Times.
An encyclical is the highest level of teaching document a Pope can issue, and could therefore see the world's 1.2billion Catholics adopt greener lifestyles.
It comes after the Pope declared last year that he intends to tackle climate change in 2015, and it is widely regarded as an attempt to influence the UN talks in Paris later this year.
Highlighting the importance of the draft letter, a Vatican official told Bloomberg that the release was a "heinous act."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments