169 Catholic college and university leaders worldwide, including nearly 100 U.S. college presidents, are showing their support to Pope Francis for his message on climate change and social justice as presented in his recent encyclical Laudato Si, On Care for Our Common Home. These universities represent a wide range of Catholic higher education institutions across the country including the University of Saint Francis and its president, Sister M. Elise Kriss.
Ninety-six leaders in U.S. Catholic higher education have joined nearly 80 Catholic university presidents from 32 other nations in signing a statement of support and a public commitment to work collaboratively “through all the means available to and appropriate for our colleges and universities as institutions of higher learning, to study, promote, and act on the ideals and vision of integral ecology laid out by Pope Francis.”
“Our university is rooted in the Franciscan tradition, and the message of respect for creation is central to our beliefs,” said Kriss. A group of USF students recently traveled to Philadelphia to witness the Pope’s visit. In addition, the university is hosting a special conference on October 3 to examine the Laudato Si’ encyclical. For more information about this upcoming conference, visit sf.edu/laudato-si.
The statement of support was also upheld by numerous national and international Catholic higher education associations and federations, including the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities, and the International Federation of Catholic Universities based in Paris. Suggested templates of available and appropriate means of implementation are currently being developed and will be shared with all the participating schools and associations.
Pope Francis addressed climate change and social justice during his U.S. visit, particularly during his addresses to Congress and the United Nations. Laudato Si’, published in June 2015, was intentionally released in anticipation of the critical United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled for November 30 through December 11 of this year in Paris. That meeting is widely considered one of the last opportunities for the world community to prevent many of the worst disasters expected from current and projected patterns of climate change by the world scientific community.
“This strong affirmation by the Catholic higher education leadership internationally, joined with the overwhelming consensus of the scientific community, should silence those who try to dismiss Pope Francis’ message by questioning his credibility on the issues,” said Christopher Kerr, executive director of the Ignatian Solidarity Network, who hosted and coordinated the higher education commitment effort.
