When it comes to the culture wars, the new pope appears to be a lot like the old pope.
Days after President Donald Trump declared that climate change is the “greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world” during his address before the United Nations General Assembly, Pope Leo XIV solemnly — and shamelessly — blessed a block of ice.
Those present were invited to stand for “The Blessing of the Waters,” the opening event for the Raising Hope for Climate Justice International Conference that took place at Castel Gandolfo, the pope’s summer residence.
The occasion was part of the Vatican’s 10th anniversary celebration of Pope Francis’s 2015 climate encyclical (a papal letter sent out to leaders of the Catholic Church), Laudato Si’, pertaining to “care for our common home.”
After placing his hand reverently on the ice, the pope offered a blessing: “Lord of life, bless this water. May it awaken our hearts, cleanse our indifference, soothe our grief, and renew our hope, through Christ our Lord.”
Next, a bolt of blue fabric was unfurled — presumably to symbolize water — which participants shook during the ceremony. In between pledges from climate activists present, attendees sang a refrain from a Latin hymn.
Later, Pope Leo addressed the crowd, at times sounding more like an environmental activist than a man of God. He called on “everyone in society, through non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups,” to ”put pressure on governments to develop and implement more rigorous regulations, procedures, and controls.”
Citizens need to take an active role in political decision-making at national, regional, and local levels.Only then will it be possible to mitigate the damage done to the environment. Local legislation will also be more effective if neighboring communities support the same environmental policies.It is my hope that the upcoming international summits of the United Nations — the 2025 Climate Change Conference (COP30), the 53rd Plenary Session of the Committee on World Food Security, and the 2026 Water Conference — will listen to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor, families, indigenous peoples, involuntary migrants, and believers throughout the world.At the same time, I encourage everyone — especially young people, parents, and those who work in local and national administrations and institutions — to play their part in finding solutions for today’s cultural, spiritual, and educational challenges, always striving tenaciously for the common good.There is no room for indifference or resignation.
While this spectacle may have delighted the Church’s more progressive members, many of us would have preferred the pope stay out of the culture wars.
Here are a few responses to the event:
Pope Leo disappointed traditionalists a second time this week with his response to a question about the offer of a “lifetime achievement award” to Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) for his work on immigration advocacy by Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich. Following intense criticism from numerous U.S. bishops that the pro-abortion Durbin was unworthy of the award, Durbin withdrew his name from consideration.
Asked by a reporter on Tuesday to weigh in, the pope replied:
I am not terribly familiar with the particular case. I think it’s important to look at the overall work that a senator has done during, if I’m not mistaken, in 40 years of service in the United States Senate.I understand the difficulty and the tensions. But I think as I myself have spoken in the past, it’s important to look at many issues that are related to the teachings of the Church.Someone who says I’m against abortion but is in favor of the death penalty is not really pro-life. Someone who says I’m against abortion but I’m in agreement with the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro life.
This was, of course, a thinly veiled jab at Trump.
The pope continued:
So they are very complex issues and I don’t know if anyone has all the truth on them. But I would ask first and foremost that they would have respect for one another and that we search together both as human beings and in that case as American citizens and citizens of the state of Illinois, as well as Catholics, to say that we need to be looking at all of these ethical issues. And to find the way forward as a Church. The Church teaching on each one of those issues is very clear.
How about saying that a senator who advocates for abortion is not entitled to a lifetime achievement award from the Archdiocese of Chicago?
There was a time when the Catholic Church unequivocally condemned abortion. Apparently, times have changed.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
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