Pope Francis Starts in New Climate Change Documentary

Pope Francis starred in “The Letter,” a documentary on climate change and the environment that premiered in the Vatican yesterday.

The title refers to Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical Laudato si’ which called for “swift and unified global action” to combat these problems.

It follows a climate activist, indigenous leader, climate refugee, and a married couple of marine biologist as they each travel to meet him.

Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, presented the film at a press conference.

He said the “beautiful film — a heartbreaking yet hopeful story — is a clarion cry to people everywhere: wake up, get serious, meet, act together, act now.”

“The film ‘The Letter’ highlights the key concept of dialogue. Dialogue is central to the Holy Father’s vision for humanity’s peace with the Creator, with all creation, and among us humans.

The film and the personal stories powerfully show that the ecological crisis has arrived and is happening now. The time is over for speculation, for skepticism and denial, for irresponsible populism. Apocalyptic floods, mega-droughts, disastrous heatwaves, and catastrophic cyclones and hurricanes have become the new normal in recent years; they continue today; tomorrow, they will get worse.

In his letter Laudato si’, Pope Francis says, ‘I would like to enter into dialogue with all people about our common home.’ The film ‘The Letter’ provides a pathway into such an encounter and dialogue.”

The film’s writer and director, Nicolas Brown, said “these voices are important largely because they are the perspectives of those who suffer the most” from climate change and environmental degradation.

Watch the documentary below: