While I'm not a Catholic, I am a Christian.
I say this not as a disclaimer, but only to make a point that I believe pastors, priests, preachers, and others — including, of course, popes — should pretty much stick to preaching the Gospel, and leave the messy business of politics, including the third rail of so-called "climate change," to others. While some might disagree, the issue at hand in this article remains the same.
The question of anthropomorphic (human caused) climate change — initially termed "global warming" by the likes of Al Gore, John Kerry, and others on the Left — continues to be a hot (no pun intended) political issue, with these climate scolds absurdly referring to climate change as "the existential threat to mankind," while many on the right (yours truly, included) believe the whole thing boils down to a massive, worldwide, wealth-redistribution scheme.
This brings us to the 30th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 30), which is now underway in Belem, Brazil — and Pope Leo XIV.
Leo addressed bishops at the climate summit on Monday, lamenting, in his view, that too few political leaders honor the Paris Agreement, and urging greater “political will” to combat climate change.
Again, not to nitpick, but as I suggested at the top, I have a hard time understanding how (or why) opining about "climate change" is a key component of "poping," to coin a word.
Nevertheless, here's the pontiff in his own words:
I greet the particular churches of the Global South. gathered at the Amazonian Museum of Belėm, joining the prophetic voice of my brother cardinals who have taken part in COP 30, telling the world with words and gestures that the Amazon region remains a living symbol of creation, with an urgent need for care.
You chose hope and action over despair, building a global community that works together. This has delivered progress, but not enough. Hope and determination must be renewed; not only in words and aspirations, but also in concrete actions.
The creation is crying out in floods, droughts, storms, and relentless heat. One in three people live in great vulnerability because of these climate changes. To them, climate change is not a distant threat, and to ignore these people is to deny our shared humanity.
Stop the tape.
How many decades have we heard the likes of Gore and Kerry, later joined by Greta Thunberg (AKA "Doom Pixie"), catastrophize and scaremonger about melting polar ice, rising sea levels, too much rain, not enough rain, too many hurricanes — the list goes on — all to no avail?
Leo continued:
There is still time to keep the rise in global temperatures below 1.5 degrees centigrade, but the window is closing. As stewards of God's creation, we are called act swiftly, with faith and prophecy, to protect the gift he entrusted to us.
With due respect, and I mean it, called to act swiftly by whom or what? The United Nations? The European Union? Leftists in the United States?
And what, exactly, are we called to do? Other than transfer enormous amounts of taxpayer money to so-called "developing" countries? Not to be a downer, but if a "developing" (previously referred to as "underdeveloped") country hasn't developed by now, chances are it's not going to happen. That is, unless — as the scheme goes — wealthy Western countries fork over billions and billions of dollars under the guise of "climate change."
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Again, here's Leo (emphasis, mine):
The Paris Agreement has driven real progress, and remains our strongest tool for protecting people and the planet. But we must be honest: it is not the agreement that is failing; we are failing in our response. What is failing is the political will of some. True leadership means service, and support at a scale that will truly make a difference.
Stronger climate actions will create stronger and fairer economic systems. Strong climate actions and policies; both are an investment in a more just and stable world. We walk alongside scientists, leaders, and pastors of every nation and creed.
We are guardians of creation — not rivals for its spoils. Let us send a clear and global signal together: nations standing in unwavering solidarity behind the Paris Agreement, and behind climate cooperation. Let this Amazonic Museum be remembered as the space where humanity chose cooperation over division and denial. And may God bless all of you in your efforts to continue caring for God's creation.
First, with respect to leadership, a true leader's most critical job is to protect the interest of those he or she leads, which is why President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement shortly after taking office in January — for the second time, with the first time being during his first term.
Second, I don't know about you, but when I hear globalists talk about "fairer" this or more "just" that, I have the same visceral action I have when Democrats talk about "equity," "inclusion," and "fair share." In other words, count me out.
Third, such talk of "unwavering solidarity," and "humanity choosing cooperation over division and denial" — given the reality of the dangerous and volatile world in which we live — sounds a bit too Pollyanna-ish to me. You?
Incidentally, Pope Leo in October blessed a massive block of ice that had broken off from the Greenland Ice Sheet. The ice, estimated to be 20,000 years old, was transported thousands of kilometers to a climate conference in Rome — in an effort to symbolize the "urgent need" to confront climate change before it's too late.
Yeah, I think I'll leave it right here.
