Pope Leo’s Warnings About AI Have Promising Implications For Climate Justice
The timing of Pope Francis’ death on April 21 felt oddly profound, said Dan Misleh. It was one day after Easter Sunday and one day before Earth Day. Of course, he didn’t do it on purpose, said Misleh, founder of Catholic Climate Covenant. But seeing how Francis made the climate crisis a central issue of his papacy, “it sure felt powerful in its own way.”
Francis’ widely read encyclical (a papal letter written to bishops to guide their ministry), Laudato Si’—released 10 years ago this month—braided theology, economics, and science in urging the church to tackle climate change. The influential document was a hallmark of his career and inspired faith-based groups to put their social sway behind the climate fight; just this year, Muslim scholars and institutions developed Al Mizan: A Covenant for the Earth, an Islamic bid for climate action, likening itself to Laudato Si’.
Francis had a unique reach for his urgent message on climate action. Was it his charisma? His popularity? Was it the blending of science and faith that showed us a holistic way to view the world and its problems? Maybe all of that. Now, with Pope Leo XVII inheriting the papacy as society marches toward critical climate deadlines, the world is watching to see if he’ll follow in Francis’ legacy.
Many Catholics—especially in a polarized United States—silently ignored Francis’ stances. The U.S. Conference of Bishops’ response to climate change has been tepid; it’s clear they’re more concerned about other issues, most prominently, abortion. In a 2021 analysis of writings from U.S. bishops, scholars wrote, “U.S. Catholic bishops responsible for leading the Church were silent and denialist about climate change around Laudato Si’.” By 2023, when Francis wrote Laudate Deum, which pointed out the disproportionate impact of climate change on vulnerable people, his tone could almost be read as pleading.
Misleh pointed out that Francis’ vocal leadership on climate action wasn’t entirely new for the Catholic Church—both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI expressed ecological concern for Earth. In fact, Francis quotes Benedict—known as “the Green Pope”—many times in Laudato Si’, and it was Benedict who put the first solar panels on a Vatican hall. Leo is just the latest in that succession.
As a relatively obscure clergy member, Leo—previously known as Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—kept a low profile with few public statements or writings. What does exist suggests alignment with his predecessor on the urgency of climate change. As Vatican News first reported, Leo urged us to move “from words to action” at a seminar last November. He added that “dominion over nature”—a reference to Genesis 1:28 in which God grants humans “dominion” over the Earth—should be “reciprocal” rather than “tyrannical.” Leo speaks against an interpretation of “dominion theology,” which says humans are exceptional creatures and have been given divine authority to stand over nature and exert their superiority. Still, many wonder what else he might offer to support and inspire action.