One year in, Pope Leo forges ahead with Francis’ ecological legacy
By Chelsea Jordan King
National Catholic Reporter
May 6, 2026
Since Pope Leo XIV assumed the papacy, one of the most closely watched questions has been how he would continue Pope Francis' legacy on climate change. […]
From the earliest days of his papacy, he signaled continuity by calling for “urgent action” on climate change and emphasizing humanity's responsibility to live in a “relationship of reciprocity” with the natural world. Over the past year, he has insisted there is “no room for indifference or resignation” in responding to the climate crisis.
Like Francis, Leo has maintained that care for the earth cannot be separated from care for the poor, and has demonstrated a willingness to confront the structural drivers of environmental harm, criticizing economic systems that prioritize extraction and profit over human dignity and ecological health. Leo has pressed policymakers and other leaders to move beyond rhetoric and implement concrete action to address worsening environmental conditions. He has encouraged Catholics not only to support policy change but to demand it by urging the faithful to hold leaders accountable for protecting the common good.