Pope Leo XIV urged global citizens Wednesday to heed the “cry of the Earth” and to pressure governments to protect the environment, in a speech that came eight days after President Donald Trump excoriated world leaders for trying to address rising temperatures.
“Everyone in society, through nongovernmental organizations and advocacy groups, must put pressure on governments to develop and implement more rigorous regulations, procedures and controls,” Leo said in an address from the Vatican’s summer residence, Castel Gandolfo.
“Citizens need to take an active role in political decision-making at national, regional and local levels,” he continued. “Only then will it be possible to mitigate the damage done to the environment.”
The pope’s remarks were scheduled for the tenth anniversary of the Laudato Si’ by then-Pope Francis, who referred to climate change as a “global problem with grave implications” in a call for urgent action to address it.
