A leaked copy of Pope Francis’ encyclical letter to the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics has been leaked on the website of Italian magazine L’Espresso. Written on it is the Pope’s call for a stop to climate change as well as criticism of global inequality.
The Vatican has issued a statement that the leaked document is a draft and is not yet the final version, which will be officially released on Thursday.
The draft states that, “Climate change is Earth’s way of protesting irresponsible use and abuse of the goods that God placed on her.” It also says that population is not to blame for the planet’s ecological problems but rather it is the consumerist behavior of the wealthy. In it, the Pope calls for policies that will favor renewable energy, as well as measures to reduce carbon emissions.
The leaked document also cited scientific research and study to support the comments.
The Pope has said that he wants the official document to be included in a debate at a UN summit on climate change, which will be held this year in Paris.
On Sunday, he stated that the document is for all of the world’s people, not just the Catholics, for whom he stands as spiritual leader.
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