The Pope reached across the aisle of all denominations and all nations to address the issues of global warming.
In a statement on the Vatican website, Pope Benedict XVI made a bold “call to action” for “all people in all nations.”
We are committed to ensuring that all inhabitants of this planet receive their daily bread, fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink, as we are aware that, if we want justice and peace, we must protect the habitat that sustains us. The believers among us ask God to grant us this wish.
The bold remarks came after the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) presented new evidence on climate change to the Vatican.
PAS is an elite group of 80 scientists with various religious backgrounds from around the world.
Veerabhadran Ramanathan, Ph.D, is a non-Catholic, glacial and atmospheric researcher at Scripps Research Institution of Oceanography. He is also a member of PAS.
Ramanathan and his team of researchers presented the Vatican with details about the impact of melting glaciers. He said fighting global warming is a moral issue.
“I don’t think we have the right as scientists to try and change ethical behavior—it requires a moral authority. What better authority than religion to handle such a task,” Ramanathan said.
He also praised the Vatican’s scientific approach in dealing with environmental issues.
“It’s one thing for the church to say ‘save the environment’ as opposed to taking action based on scientific research.”
On Tuesday, about two dozen bishops attended an online meeting with Ramanathan for details on his “how to report” for diminishing global warming.
In the meantime, a grassroots advocacy group called the Catholic Climate Covenant has launched a campaign that “embraces efforts of environmental stewardship”.
