UN leader, Obama praise encyclical
June 19, 2015
President Barack Obama and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon issued separate statements on June 18 welcoming Pope Francis’s second encyclical letter.
“I welcome His Holiness Pope Francis's encyclical, and deeply admire the Pope's decision to make the case - clearly, powerfully, and with the full moral authority of his position - for action on global climate change,” said President Obama.
“It is an issue of social justice, human rights and fundamental ethics,” said Ban, as he called upon the international community to “do far more to help the poorest and most vulnerable members of society, who are suffering most from climate impacts yet had least to do with causing the problem.”
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Further information:
- UN chief hails Papal Encyclical spotlighting climate change as critical ‘moral issue’ (UN News Service)
- Statement by the President on Pope Francis’s Encyclical (White House)
- Pope Francis’ 2nd encyclical released (includes link to full text) (CWN, 6/18)
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Posted by: feedback -
Jun. 20, 2015 6:44 AM ET USA
Politicians' "praises" miss the point entirely; one can tell they have never read the text. I encourage everyone to read the Encyclical, or at least read "What Laudato Si' is really about" by Dr. Jeff Mirus.
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Posted by: unum -
Jun. 19, 2015 11:13 PM ET USA
So, two very political figures,Barack Obama and Ban Ki-moon, welcome the Pope's second encyclical containing a call for action on global climate change (warming). What are Catholics to make of it when the views of the Holy Father and two very liberal political figures coincide? Has the Pope waded into the political swamp, or have the politicians accidentally become interested in morality for a change? Only time will tell!
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Jun. 19, 2015 8:29 PM ET USA
Wow! This encyclical must really be something since it gets endorsements from Obama and Ban Ki-Moon. One can't get better endorsements than these two.
