This week, Pope Francis told CBS News that individuals who deny climate change are “stupid,” despite overwhelming evidence pointing to a climate emergency.
“Some people are stupid (necios), and stupid even if you show them research, they don’t believe it,” the pontiff told CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell when asked what he would say to the deniers of climate change.
“Why? Because they don’t understand the situation, or because of their interests, but climate change exists,” the 87-year-old pope stated.
Pope Francis made history by being part of an in-depth, one-on-one interview with a U.S. television network for the first time in his 11-year pontificate.
CBS broadcasted segments of the interview on Wednesday night during the Evening News. They have also planned to air a more extensive version on May 20 on “60 Minutes,” followed by an hour-long prime-time special.
During the interview, Francis was questioned about his thoughts on labeling the violence in Gaza as “genocide.” The pontiff echoed the term “genocide” and mentioned his routine of contacting the Catholic parish in Gaza every evening around 7:00 PM Rome time for updates.
“There are about 600 people there, and they tell me what’s going on,” he said. “It’s very hard; it’s very hard.”
“Food goes in, but they have to fight for it,” he said. “It’s very hard.”
Pope Francis has been a strong advocate for addressing climate change, labeling global warming as “one of the most serious and worrying phenomena of our time.” He has urged the implementation of “drastic measures” to combat climate change.
“Now is the time to abandon our dependence on fossil fuels and move, quickly and decisively, towards forms of clean energy and a sustainable and circular economy,” he exhorted in September 2019. “Let us also learn to listen to indigenous peoples, whose age-old wisdom can teach us how to live in a better relationship with the environment.”
“While the situation is not good and the planet is suffering, the window of opportunity is still open,” he warned. “We are still in time. Let us not let it close.”
He has expressed his opinion that any skepticism regarding an alleged “climate emergency” is “perverse.”
The pope has specifically criticized the United States for its role in the “climate emergency,” even though it ranks among the countries with the cleanest air globally.
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