People’s Pope: Philippine climate justice movement mourns the death of staunch activist for the people and the planet
- Media Communications
- Apr 26
- 3 min read
Quezon City, Philippines — Marginalized peoples and environmental defenders everywhere in the world—Catholics and non-Catholics alike—mourn the loss of their champion, Pope Francis.
Known as Jose Mario Bergoglio in his early life in Argentina, he chose the name Francis upon his election to the papacy in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecologists who embraced a life of poverty and was a great lover of nature.
Pope Francis will be remembered in many heartwarming stories, but one of the most remarkable for Filipinos was when he visited the Philippines in 2015 to commiserate with the victims of Typhoon Yolanda. In Tacloban and Palo, Leyte, two of the hardest hit areas, he ditched his prepared script and did not pretend to have an immediate solution to the people’s suffering. Instead, he empathized with them and listened intently to their stories.
Ten years on, the Philippines remains at high risk from increasingly destructive typhoons and other extreme weather events. Despite repeated warnings from scientists that climate change would bring stronger typhoons—even worse than Yolanda—we have sadly breached the 1.5°C threshold that scientists warned us about. Worse, fossil fuel companies and coal-fired power plants continue to expand in the Philippines and around the world, further stoking the heat that fuels the climate crisis.
During his papacy, Pope Francis championed the cause of the oppressed, supported the movement for climate justice, advocated for LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights and liberation, defended the victims of genocide in Palestine, and made an effort to build a bridge for everyone regardless of differences. He did all of that while nursing himself as he grew weak from sickness and despite the overwhelming influence of the conservatives that surrounded him at the Vatican. Pope Francis not only comforted people in need, he also questioned the very system that perpetuated their suffering. He fearlessly critiqued capitalism, labeling it as the “Dung of the Devil.”
One year before his death, Pope Francis was asked in an interview whether he blamed wealthy countries for climate change. The pope answered assertively, “In great measure, yes, because they are the ones that have more of an economy and energy based on fossil fuels that are creating the situation, right? They are the countries that can make the most difference, given their industry and all, aren’t they?”
In the same interview, Pope Francis warned, “Climate change at this moment is a road to death.” But his words fell on the deaf ears of world leaders and capitalists blinded by greed, who could only hear the sound of profits.
Pope Francis' encyclical emphasized the impacts brought by climate change—recognizing that it is the most pressing threat to life today, and it is crucial to act with a sense of urgency for climate justice: One that severely affects the environment, society, economy, politics, and distribution of goods at a global scale. He declared that climate change is a moral issue we must address to protect the world and its inhabitants.
In a world where a plurality of beliefs exists—and where belief too often leads people to become divisive—the world was fortunate to have a unifying leader who made genuine efforts to build relationships among all people, grounded in the shared principle of justice and the urgent need to protect our common home.
Though the world lost a spiritual leader who fought for social justice and climate justice, the torch passes to every single person who continues the work that Pope Francis accomplished in his relentless fight for equality, justice, and a clean, healthy planet. ###
FOR INQUIRIES:
Sheila Abarra
Senior Media and Communications Officer
Philippine Movement for Climate Justice
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