Pope Leo told he is an "action hero" on climate

Arnold Schwarzenegger at the Raising Hope conference Castel Gandolfo today. Image: X

Source: ICN exclusive

Pope Leo XlV was described as an "action hero" today by no less than film star Arnold Schwarzenegger. The actor - known for his roles in high-profile action films, turned climate champion in his role as Governor of California for eight years, and head of the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative - said: "I'm standing next to an action hero!" Pope Leo smiled while a huge audience cheered wildly. Yet, when Pope Leo spoke next, he told around a thousand gathered from around the world at Castel Gandolfo for a Church conference on the climate crisis: "you are the action heroes."

This was day one of the international three-day conference, 'Raising Hope for Climate Justice' taking place near Rome 1-3 October.

The event has been organised by the Laudato Si' Movement, in collaboration with various ecclesial and institutional partners, for the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si'.

'Raising Hope' has brought together more than 400 faith leaders, climate experts, civil society representatives and institutions from around the world, aiming to chart the next steps in implementing the "ecological conversion" called for in Laudato Si'.

I'm here with Columban Missionaries in Britain, but others attending from Britain and Ireland include Bishop John Arnold, environment lead for the bishops of England and Wales; Bishop Martin Hayes, Laudato Si lead in Ireland; Christine Allen, CAFOD's director; and Catholic journalist and author Austen Ivereigh. But we are also touching base with colleagues from much further afield. The gathering is truly international and diverse.

Today the central moment of the conference took place: a Celebration of Hope with the participation of Pope Leo XIV. Addresses from Filipino climate activist Yeb Sano, Chair of the Board of the Laudato Si Movement; Marina Silva, Minister of the Environment in Brazil; and Arnold Schwarzenegger preceeded the address by Pope Leo, which opened with "Peace be with you." Referring to Laudato Si', Pope Leo thanked God for "the gift we inherited from Pope Francis," and warned that the environmental challenges today are greater than 10 years ago. He thanked the Laudato Si Movement for picking up on the encyclical "from the beginning" and for linking "the cry of the Earth and the cry of the Poor."

He criticised those who ignore the climate crisis. "Some have chosen to deride the increasingly evident signs of climate change," he said, "to ridicule those who speak of global warming, and even to blame the poor for the very thing that affects them the most." He flagged up the COP30 UN Climate Conference in November, and forthcoming international UN conferences on Food and Water. "There is no room for indifference" he said before thanking participants for their commitment and extending a blessing to all present and online.

Then, particularly moving was a symbolic and spiritual moment of common commitment following Pope Leo's talk. Victims of environmental disasters brought up water which was poured into a "vessel of tears". People around me were crying as a representative of Timor-Leste remembered voices of the oppressed; from Ireland the voices of young people worried about the future; an indigenous person from Brazil brought forward the cry of the world's ecosystems; Caritas Internationalis raised the suffering of migrants; while a bishop from Mexico highlighted environmental champions who have suffered and died "trying to protect our common home." A large block of ice from a glacier in Greenland, that will slowly melt over the duration of the conference, represented the "cry of the Earth". Pope Leo blessed the combined waters, saying: "may this water awake our hearts and cleanse our indifference."

As he spoke about a river of hope, a large blue banner was slowly unfurled down the middle of the hall by environmental activists, including Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Mary Robinson of the Elders who is a passionate climate justice advocate. Beautiful creation-centred music by Michelle McManus, Adenike and others complemented and the huge gathering joined the latter in singing a Laudato Si' refrain.

Pope Leo gave every indication that he fully supports the call for ecological justice pioneered by Pope Francis and other predecessors and will work with those groups responding to issues raised in Laudato Si'. He said, "we inhabit the same planet and must care for it together."

The conference will continue for the next two days with working sessions, roundtables, and spiritual moments. More than 50 prominent figures - religious leaders, scientists, civil society and political representatives - will be sharing insights from every continent, particularly focusing on building hope to better cherish God's creation. Some of these are being livestreamed. Even today, with so much going on, there were side meetings on COP30 and 'The Economy of Francesco' where more than 50 people at each discussed working for a more sustainable future at all levels.

LINK

Raising Hope Conference https://raisinghope.earth/conference/