Over 50 religious and environmental organizations, along with prominent leaders, have penned a letter to Pope Francis expressing support for the implicit message in his recent apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum.

The coalition, led by In Defense of Animals’ Interfaith Vegan Coalition and the Plant-Based Treaty, encourages the Pope to directly tackle the adverse effects of animal agriculture on the climate during his participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai from December 1st -3rd, 2023.

Additionally, the letter emphasises the importance of compassionate treatment of animals within the context of animal agriculture, which not only harms the planet but also contributes to global hunger.

Pope Francis' Laudate Deum, issued on October 4, aims to address the pressing climate crisis, building on his 2015 encyclical, Laudato Si’, which underscores the intrinsic value of all living beings in God's creation. The signatories hope Laudate Deum will explicitly recognise human interaction with animals and nature as a fundamental cause of the climate and ecological challenges confronting the world.

Pope Francis says in the Laudato Si' encyclical, paragraph 221: "We read in the Gospel that Jesus says of the birds of the air that ‘not one of them is forgotten before God.’ How then can we possibly mistreat them or cause them harm?" 

In a recently penned letter, religious leaders expressed their support for Pope Francis, stating that his apostolic exhortation, Laudate Deum, implicitly condemns the extreme cruelty and environmental devastation caused by animal agriculture.

The letter contends that Pope Francis' actions, including the selection of Jonathan Safran Foer, a known advocate for reducing animal product consumption, to give a keynote address in response to Laudate Deum on October 5 at its conference for accredited journalists, “Laudate Deum: voices and testimonies on the climate crisis,” indicate a potential shift in the Vatican's stance on industrial animal farming.

The religious leaders, welcoming the hidden message of Laudate Deum, urge Pope Francis to address the negative impacts of the food system at the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and emphasise the moral imperative to reconsider human-animal relations.

They caution that even if fossil fuel extraction ceases, emissions from the food system alone could push global temperatures beyond the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The letter states, “we ask Your Holiness to sound the alarm at COP28 about food system impacts missing from the Paris Agreement. Please use your influence to encourage collective action to safeguard our future. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, says, "The final battle over whether we successfully deliver on the Paris Climate targets rests on whether we are able to transform the global food system.”

This year, scientists confirmed that six out of nine of our planetary boundaries have been breached. Mentioned earlier Johan Rockström, the highest class specialist, says, "The way that we produce food in the world is the single largest reason that we have transgressed planetary boundaries. It is the single largest threat to the stability of the planet and our life support systems, from freshwater, pollinators, and soil health, to rainfall generation, and quality of air and water. Present food production is putting our future at risk."

In a collective plea, over 50 religious and environmental organizations implore Pope Francis to champion a reduction in animal product consumption, advocate for plant-based food systems, and promote ethical treatment of animals. The groups see these measures as crucial components of a robust response to the climate crisis.

Citing the 2023 IPCC report, a coalition of over 50 religious and environmental organizations urges Pope Francis to recognise the significant role of food production systems in climate change and biodiversity loss.

The letter emphasises the irreversible loss of genetic biodiversity and the threats faced by approximately 1 million plant and animal species. Advocating for a shift away from intensive livestock production, especially in affluent societies, the groups assert that transitioning from animal farming to plant-based alternatives is a crucial and immediate strategy to counteract environmental challenges.

“The genetic biodiversity of plants and animals is being lost irretrievably at a high rate. The rampant livestock production, mainly for rich societies, is causing hunger in many parts of the world, diseases and epidemics."

According to many scientists, "the phasing out of animal farming in favor of plant production represents the most immediate and feasible opportunity to reverse the trend of climate and environmental changes.”

The groups further highlight passages from Pope Francis's earlier encyclical, Laudato Si', emphasiing the intrinsic value of animals and the call to reject oppressive dominion while respecting their nature. They acknowledge the Pope's awareness of the harm inflicted on animals but assert that the teachings while expressing the concept of shared "ties of origin," lack clarity for the majority. The letter suggests a need for more explicit connections to reality and practical guidance on restoring God's intended harmony in Creation.

“However, these thoughts contained in the teaching of Your Holiness are still not connected to reality and are not clear enough for people. For the majority, it is still not comprehensible with whom we share the 'ties of origin,' that Your Holiness speaks of, and what it means practically to restore God's intended harmony in Creation.”  

“If we accept St Francis of Assisi's exhortation, ‘Not to hurt our humble brethren (the animals) is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission: to be of service to them whenever they require it,’ then we must treat any animal in need as our neighbor.”

— Virginia Bell, Catholic Action for Animals

“The food system and in particular, animal agriculture has breached 5 out of 9 of our planetary boundaries, risking the stability of Earth. The need for a plant-based food system is more urgent than ever.”

— Nicola Harris, Plant Based Treaty

In Defense of Animals established the Interfaith Vegan Coalition with the goal of assisting animal activists and spiritual leaders in promoting vegan values within spiritual, ethical, and religious communities. This coalition offers faith-based resources to support the practice of non-violence, loving-kindness, and harmlessness towards all animals across various faith and secular wisdom traditions. Comprising 43 member organizations, four allied organizations, and the Animal Interfaith Alliance as a partner organization, it unites 17 organizations towards a common goal.

In alignment with the UNFCCC/Paris Agreement, the Plant-Based Treaty seeks to address the widespread environmental degradation caused by animal agriculture. Its objectives include advocating for a transition to healthier, sustainable plant-based diets and actively reversing damage to critical ecosystems, planetary functions, ecosystem services, and biodiversity.