In the opening chapter of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis makes it abundantly clear that he is no climate change denier. In- deed, he devotes the entire chapter to carefully chronicling what is happening to our planet, confronting us with enough facts and statistics that the reality of global climate change is irrefutable, something “we can no longer sweep under the carpet” (LS 19).
He examines air, soil, and water pollution as well as pollution caused by waste, noting that the “earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth” (LS 21). He gives extensive attention to the diminished availability of fresh, clean water. He provides a trenchant analysis of the costly loss of biodiversity through the destruction of tropical rain forests, wetlands, and coral reefs.
Threaded throughout the entire chapter – as well as all of Laudato Si’ – is Francis’ persistent argument that the poor suffer disproportionately from the consequences of climate change and environmental degradation. Theirs are the “millions of premature deaths” (LS 20).
They are the multitudes who “have no other financial activities or resources which can enable them to adapt to climate change or toface natural disasters,” realities that force them “to leave their homes, with great uncertainty for their future and that of their children.” Worst of all, their desperation is com- pounded by the “widespread indifference” of people who, in their comfort and security, feel scant responsibility for their suffering sisters and brothers (LS 25).
“Indeed, when all is said and done, they frequently remain at the bottom of the pile.”
LS 49
Francis concludes this opening chapter with what now should be obvious: “But we need only take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair.”
And ends with an observation of Pope John Paul II that should trouble our conscience: “If we scan the regions of our planet, we immediately see that humanity has disappointed God’s expectations” (LS 61).
