In May, Pope Francis issued a call to repent for “ecological sins” and halt the pollution wreaking havoc on Earth’s climate, as reported by Reuters.

On September 1st, the Catholic Church observes its World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, a tradition where the Pope typically releases a message tied to the event. This year’s message, unveiled on May 25th, is available on the Vatican website.

In this message, Pope Francis unequivocally declared that the current state of the environment is both unjust and unacceptable.

“Let us heed our call to stand with the victims of environmental and climate injustice, and to put an end to the senseless war against creation,” he emphasized.

Pope Francis specifically identified the utilization of polluting energy sources like oil and gas as the primary catalyst of climate issues, attributing greed as the driving force behind these destructive fuel choices.

“The unrestrained burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of forests are pushing temperatures higher and leading to massive droughts,” he stated, underscoring how water shortages are impacting rural areas and metropolises alike.

Furthermore, he drew attention to “predatory industries are depleting and polluting our freshwater sources through extreme practices such as fracking for oil and gas extraction, unchecked mega-mining projects, and intensive animal farming.”

Pope Francis outlined actionable steps for both individuals and governments to rectify the global climate situation.

For individuals, he urged, “Let us adopt lifestyles marked by less waste and unnecessary consumption, especially where the processes of production are toxic and unsustainable.”

His directive to politicians was even more explicit. “The world leaders who will gather for the COP28 summit in Dubai from [November 30 to December 12] next must listen to science and institute a rapid and equitable transition to end the era of fossil fuel,” he insisted.

Pope Francis emphasized that to adhere to the goals of the Paris Agreement—a global treaty aimed at curbing further warming of the planet—it is illogical to continue expanding the oil and gas industries, which emit heat-trapping air pollutants.