The Acts of the Apostles this Sunday says that those who denied Jesus at his Crucifixion did so out of ignorance. Those who deny climate change in the face of overwhelming evidence do so out of ignorance, environmentalists say, and it appears Pope Francis is with them. The Vatican is set to host a major conference on climate change this month and the “green pope,” as some are calling Francis, will release an encyclical on the environment this summer.

Homily hint: Responsible stewardship over creation is a theme that goes back to the Book of Genesis. We may be a long way from the Garden of Eden but we can do our best to preserve what remains of our beautiful natural environment and to repair the damage already caused by our rapid industrial growth. Slow down and smell the flowers—while we have them! 

For more on Pope Francis and environmentalism, see: Pope Francis throws the weight of his office behind tackling climate change