Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Pope Francis addresses the crowd during his weekly general audience at St Peter's square on June 17, 2015 at the Vatican.(Photo: Alberto Pizzoli, AFP/Getty Images)
Pope Francis didn't pull any punches in his letter on climate change.
The science of climate change is clear, he explains. Humans are at fault. We're destroying the Earth and killing ourselves. The world's poorest people are bearing the worst of it, and the most blame lies with rich countries and corporations that pursue profit and economic growth with little or no regard for people and the environment. It's time for change.
That's the basic message of "Laudato Si," but there's a lot more in there, including messages on clean water access, biodiversity, conflicts and violence related to control over natural resources, technology, and a consumerist culture that Francis calls "throwaway culture."
The whole letter is 183 pages long — about 38,000 words. You can read it in full here, if you wish. But nobody's going to blame you if you want the abridged version.
Pope Francis has got your back. For past day, he's been tweeting key points from his encyclical to his 20+ million Twitter followers. It would take more than 1,600 tweets to reproduce the entire letter, but we're guessing he won't go quite that long.
Pope Francis tweets on the account @Pontifex.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Twitter.com)
Here are some of his most poignant tweets on the subject:
• "I invite all to pause to think about the challenges we face regarding care for our common home. #LaudatoSi"
• "There is an intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet. #LaudatoSi"
• "The throwaway culture of today calls for a new lifestyle. #LaudatoSi"
• "The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all."
The climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "Climate change represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day. #LaudatoSi"
• "The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth."
The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together."
The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "The deterioration of the environment and of society affect the most vulnerable people on the planet."
The deterioration of the environment and of society affect the most vulnerable people on the planet.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "To blame population growth, and not an extreme consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues."
To blame population growth, and not an extreme consumerism on the part of some, is one way of refusing to face the issues.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "We need only to take a frank look at the facts to see that our common home is falling into serious disrepair. #LaudatoSi"
• "Each community has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations."
Each community has the duty to protect the earth and to ensure its fruitfulness for coming generations.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "Earth is essentially a shared inheritance, whose fruits are meant to benefit everyone. #LaudatoSi"
• "Never has humanity had such power over itself, yet nothing ensures that it will be used wisely."
Never has humanity had such power over itself, yet nothing ensures that it will be used wisely.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 18, 2015
• "For indigenous communities, land is not a commodity, but a gift from God, a sacred space."
For indigenous communities, land is not a commodity, but a gift from God, a sacred space.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 19, 2015
• "What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?"
What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 19, 2015
• "Reducing greenhouse gases requires honesty, courage and responsibility. #LaudatoSi"
• "Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change."
Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 19, 2015
• "Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope."
Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this planet never take away the joy of our hope.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) June 19, 2015
This article originally appeared on GlobalPost.
MORE FROM GLOBALPOST:
GLOBALPOST
Chile's air is so polluted that Copa America fans are being told not to barbecue
GLOBALPOST
Greek islanders are breaking the law to help thousands of desperate migrants
GLOBALPOST
Mexico to Donald Trump: You are one 'ignorant,' 'prejudiced' hombre
GlobalPost is a USA TODAY content partner providing world news coverage. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed