Christian Duty: Cardinal Indicates Themes of Pope's Climate Change Document

A Vatican official who helped write a first draft of Pope Francis' upcoming encyclical on climate change acknowledged disagreement over the causes of global warming but said "what is not contested is that our planet is getting warmer" and Christians have a duty rooted in "ancient biblical teaching" to address the problem.

In a speech last week in Ireland, Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, said Francis isn't making a political call to arms or an attempt at "greening the church."  The pope instead is emphasizing Roman Catholic social teaching that links protecting life with fighting global inequality and preserving the environment, Turkson said.

"For the Christian, to care for God's ongoing work of creation is a duty, irrespective of the causes of climate change," Turkson said, in his address last Thursday at St. Patrick's Pontifical University in Maynooth, Ireland.  "To care for creation, to develop and live an integral ecology as the basis for development and peace in the world is a fundamental Christian duty."

The highly anticipated encyclical is due to be released this June or July, and only the pope will determine what the final document will include.  Still, Turkson's central role in drafting the statement is prompting many Vatican observers to consider the speech a preview of the encyclical.

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