Pope Francis throws down the gauntlet for Paris climate summit
The cat is well and truly amongst the pigeons now! Feathers are gonna fly...
Pope Francis throws down the gauntlet for Paris climate summit
Nobody, whether atheist or religious, can deny that the Popes encyclical on caring for our common home is a big deal.
Its immediate importance comes from its potential to influence world leaders and galvanise the developing world ahead of the Paris Climate Conference this year. Moreover, the encyclical positions Francis in conflict with conservative think tanks such as the Heartland Institute, future contenders for the US presidency (five Catholics are expected to challenge for the Republican nomination), and even climate deniers within the Vatican itself.
The stage is set for a battle royale, and Francis shows little sign of flinching. Instead, he has asked readers to receive this document with an open spirit. Now that the encyclical has been published, we are in a position to evaluate it on its own terms.
Some Vatican officials have sought to resist reading the encyclical as a political document. Father Dario Viganò, for example, argued: Any political or sociological reading of this is culturally poor and misleading you have to look at it in terms of humanity and the Gospel.
This pure stance is difficult to maintain in light of the timing of the encyclical and the Popes intention to address both houses of the US congress this September. As described already, the encyclical itself is also overtly political and laments the hollowing out of government institutions by corporate finance.