Next Steps?

As a follow up to the Pope's recent encyclical on global warming (see Laudato Si), I post the image above. A group of Catholic and Buddhist leaders met at the Vatican on June 24. Go here for more information about the meeting and to view a short video clip of the Pope's words to the group. Pope Francis, smiling beatifically, is shown to the right. To his immediate left, looking on from the background in brown okesa is Hozan Alan Senauke (see Bodhisattva's Embrace and In the Herbarium). The plot continues to thicken.  [NOTE: Image from the RomeReports.com video].

Laudato Si

Pope Francis released his papal encyclical on climate change today. "Climate change is a global problem with grave implications: environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods," he wrote. "It represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day." Developed, industrialized countries, i.e. us, are mostly responsible, he said, and they are obligated to help poorer nations confront the crisis.

There are about 1.25 billion Catholics in the world. Can't wait to see what happens next. Go here for more about this historic proclamation. [NOTE: The climate change plot thickens].