Leo XIV Escalates Climate Change: "Countries Will Disappear in Less Than Fifty Years"

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Leo XIV Escalates Climate Change: "Countries Will Disappear in Less Than Fifty Years"

gloria.tv | October 24, 2025

On 24 October, Pope Leo XIV participated in a meeting of bodies of the Rome Synod on Synods that emphasized buzzwords such as listening, participation, dialogue and inclusion.

He spoke several times about the 'care of creation' as a mission priority: "I recently met with a bishop from Oceania who told me that climate change is such an urgent issue that, if things continue as they are, his country will disappear in less than fifty years."

Pope Leo XIV reiterated that there is an "urgent cry" from people in different parts of the world, whether due to poverty, injustice, or climate change.

Learning from those “who may never be members of the Church”

When talking about Africa, Pope Leo XIV said that he wants the Church to be a bridge, especially when Christians find themselves in the minority alongside members of other religions, such as Islam.

He proposed a Church that listens to "the wisdom that we find in men and women, in members of the Church and in those who are searching and who may never be members of the Church, but who are indeed looking for truth".


Women religious as ministers of sacraments

When asked when "men and women will be equal in the Church", Leo XIV replied: "Unfortunately, the way we live out our faith is often influenced more by our culture than by Gospel values."

He also presented a Peruvian role model: "There is a congregation of consecrated religious women whose vocation is to serve in places where there are no priests. In these remote communities, they are authorised to baptise, act as official witnesses in marriages and bring the presence of the Church to people who would otherwise be deprived of it."

Leo XIV wanted to “set aside the more complex questions that are being studied by various working groups”. He believes that “the real issue lies in the cultural obstacles that still exist.”