We don’t need to be Catholics to grieve the loss of His Holiness Pope Francis. As the first pontiff in history to take a public stance on combating climate change, he was a strong advocate for climate action and a friend to climate activists.
Photo by Jeffrey Bruno/Creative Commons
Laudato Si’
In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis challenges us to see the natural world not as a resource to exploit, but as a sacred home we are called to protect. He speaks of an “integral ecology” that recognizes the deep interconnectedness between people, creatures, and ecosystems, a truth African penguins embody with heartbreaking urgency.
A Sentinel Species Crying for Help
Once abundant along the coastlines of South Africa and Namibia, African penguins have been pushed to the brink of extinction. Overfishing strips away their food, habitat destruction leaves them vulnerable, and warming oceans disrupt the delicate balance of their existence. Their dwindling numbers aren’t just a conservation concern, they are a warning sign that we are failing in our responsibility to care for creation.
Faith Calls Us to Action
Francis reminds us that ecological degradation is inseparable from moral failure. The loss of species is not just about biodiversity—it’s about justice, responsibility, and the choices we make every day.
But Laudato Si’ does not dwell in despair. It is a call to transformation, urging us to shift from passive concern to tangible action. And that action starts with each of us.
Laudato Si’ reminds us that environmental harm disproportionately affects the vulnerable. Penguins are voiceless victims of human decisions. Let’s speak for them.
Hope Begins With Us
Saving African penguins is more than a conservation effort; it’s a moral act. It’s a declaration that we refuse to let exploitation and indifference define our relationship with nature.
Laudato Si’ reminds us that the most meaningful changes begin with individuals who refuse to accept destruction as inevitable. Let’s be those individuals.
Laudate Deum
When Pope Francis released Laudate Deum, he didn’t mince words. Building upon his previously published Laudato Si’, this exhortation goes beyond simply outlining environmental crises and their effects on human life. Pope Francis adopts a spiritual lens, highlighting the profound and inseparable bond between humanity and the natural world. He reinforces the idea that “we are part of nature, included in it and thus in constant interaction with it” (paragraph 25), echoing themes from his earlier writings. Additionally, he draws attention to indigenous cultures as models of balanced coexistence with nature, offering a stark contrast to the often exploitative tendencies of the technocratic paradigm.
The climate crisis isn’t a vague future threat, it’s happening now, unraveling ecosystems and disproportionately harming the most vulnerable. While his message was directed at humanity as a whole, one critically endangered species embodies this urgent plea for action: the African penguin.
The Failure of Political Will
Francis critiques the failure of international climate summits to produce tangible results. African penguins are a victim of that inertia. Year after year, conservationists fight for stronger protections, yet policymakers drag their feet. The ocean isn’t waiting, and neither can we.
What Can We Do?
The Pope reminds us that fundamental transformation begins with grassroots movements. Francis shifted the Church’s focus, broadening its pastoral and political engagement with Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Once seen primarily as missionary fields, these regions emerged as key voices in global discussions on justice, ecology, and peace. Rather than addressing the Global South from a distance, Francis spoke from within it, making its perspectives central to the conversation.
So here’s how we can turn moral responsibility into action:
📣 Amplify the Message: Share stories, engage in conservation conversations, and hold leaders accountable for environmental policy failures.
💡 Educate & Mobilize: Schools, workplaces, and community groups can all play a role in spreading awareness and funding protective measures.
🐧 Support Conservation Efforts: If you can afford it, consider donating to organizations that work to protect critically endangered African penguins, promote marine ecosystem health, and advocate for change. If African penguins aren’t your thing, please support the environmental cause of your choice.
🌊 Advocate for Sustainable Fishing: Overfishing is starving African penguins. Raise awareness and support responsible seafood choices.
Ditch plastic, especially single-use junk: It’s wreaking havoc on ocean life and their fragile ecosystems. Time to cut the waste and protect our seas.
Faith, Action, and Responsibility
Laudate Deum demands urgency. We can’t leave African penguins to become another casualty of unchecked environmental destruction. This isn’t just about saving a species; it’s about safeguarding the balance of marine ecosystems, the integrity of our planet, and the moral obligation we hold to protect the vulnerable, whether human or non-human.
Thoughts and prayers, while appreciated, won’t protect the critically endangered African penguins. It’s time to act.