Encyclical takes on global deniers as pope appeals for ‘our ruined’ planet

Pope Francis said that all should help to save “our ruined” planet and asked critics to read his highly-contested encyclical with an open spirit. In the highly personal and eloquently written 192-page docuemnt, Francis dives head on into the climate change controversy, which has won him the wrath of skeptical conservatives. The document is the Church’s most controversial since Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae enshrined the Church’s ban on contraception. By making environmental protection a moral imperative, Francis could spur the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics to lobby policymakers on ecology issues.

Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility, particularly by the most powerful and most polluting nations.

Pope Francis

Because Francis has said he wants to influence a key U.N. climate summit this year, the encyclical further consolidates his role as a global diplomatic player following his mediation bringing Cuba and the United States to the negotiating table last year. Most encyclicals are addressed to Catholics but Francis repeated on Wednesday that he wants a wider audience. Francis squarely backs scientists who say global warming is mostly man-made and says developed countries have a particular responsibility to stem a trend that will hurt the poor the most.

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