Pope Leo XIV has been in office since May 2025. Image: keystone
November 18, 2025, 07:11November 18, 2025, 07:11
Pope Leo XIV criticizes the lack of political will in some countries to combat the climate crisis. “What is failing is the political will of some,” he said in a message at the start of the crucial week of the World Climate Conference in Brazil and acknowledged the progress achieved through the Paris Climate Agreement concluded ten years ago. It was not the agreement that failed, but “our reaction to it”.
His home country, the USA, withdrew from the Paris Agreement under President Donald Trump.
“Creation screams”
Pope Leo drew attention to the climate impacts that are already being felt today: “Creation cries out in the form of floods, droughts, storms and unrelenting heat. One in three people lives in great danger due to these climate impacts.”
With a view to the climate negotiations between almost 200 countries, the head of the church is calling for more ambition. There is still time to keep the increase in global temperature below 1.5 degrees. “But the window of opportunity is closing.” As stewards of God’s creation, humanity is called upon to act with foresight and to protect what God has entrusted to them. (sda/dpa)