Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato Si’ warned of a world in crisis due to environmental neglect. Ten years later experts say progress has been made—but not nearly enough.
In 2023, the pope issued Laudate Deum, stating that climate responses remain inadequate while the planet nears a “breaking point.”
Catholic leaders and organisations, including the Catholic Climate Covenant and the Laudato Si’ Movement, acknowledge growing engagement but stress that political polarisation and consumer culture hinder a more robust response.
While global climate action has advanced, the US church’s involvement remains inconsistent. Scientists confirm that 2024 was Earth’s hottest year on record, with worsening extreme weather.
With the anniversary of Laudato Si‘, Catholics are called to deepen their commitment to caring for our common home.
“It’s up to humans—and their unique creativity—to come up with solutions,” said Sister Damien Marie Savino, a Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist who is dean of science and sustainability at Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and a visiting fellow at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana.
“We wouldn’t have environmental issues if it wasn’t for human action. So we have to recognise that our actions do have a unique effect because of our unique ecological niche.”