Pope Francis, also known as ‘the reformer pope’, has spoken up against climate change yet again!

This time Pope Francis spoke at the climate change conference at the Vatican. The conference titled ‘Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity: The Moral Dimensions of Climate Change and Sustainable Development’ was a shot at salvaging the Earth from the unwarranted damage caused to it by humanity. The Pope’s proclamation, an attempt to fish in troubled waters, has already earned enough ire from various ends.

The Pope, the highest dignitary of the Vatican, is expected to exhibit the higher standards of propriety. He, as the leader of the world’s Catholics, has to balance the strains between the preserves of the past and the challenges brought forth by the present. As is said, the Catholic Church changes where she must and does not where she must not, similarly, the Pope must know how to strike a chord between what is eternal, everlasting and period, and that, what is fresh, unknown and often demanding.

What should be applauded has rather been seen cynically. The Vatican’s statement where it says, “Finding ways to develop a sustainable relationship with our planet requires not only the engagement of scientists, political leaders and civil societies, but ultimately also a moral revolution has garnered widespread criticism”.

James H. Rust, policy advisor at the Heartland Institute, is attacking the Pope by saying that he is making a grave blunder by entering into the climate change debate. Reiterating his words is Heartland contributing writer, H. Sterling Burnett. He openly condemned the Pope’s move on the institute’s official website.

This is in fact a sad state of affairs wherein instead of fighting the menace that global warming is by coming together hand-in-hand, “we are hurling accusations at each other”. What is required of people of all religions is to come together and take a decisive role in combating climate change.