Pope reiterates his belief that true change is driven from bottom up

By Vatican News

Video footage of a brief Q & A between Pope Francis and the Bishop of Verona, Domenico Pompili, was broadcast on Saturday afternoon at the Sixth Forum of Laudato si' Communities hosted, for the first time, by the Diocese of Verona in northern Italy.

The theme, "Doubling the Commitment," encapsulates the sense of urgency and heightened responsibility that 'Laudate Deum' seeks to instil In a world facing environmental crises of unprecedented proportions.

Ten days after the release of the Apostolic Exhortation, Laudate Deum, which builds upon the foundation laid by his 2015 encyclical Laudato si, Pope Francis reflects on the need for this update and its implications.

Responding to Bishop Pompili’s question, Pope Francis explains that the inspiration for “Laudate Deum” came from the realization that, in the eight years since “Laudato sì” was published, the world has witnessed a lack of effective progress in addressing environmental issues. He specifically mentions the COP15 Paris Climate Agreement as a moment of great promise and hope but laments that subsequent actions have not lived up to expectations and reiterates his belief that we have a responsibility to pass on a “livable” world to future generations.

“A prominent Italian scientist shared with me his heartfelt concern, 'I don't want my granddaughter, born the day before yesterday, to have to live in an unlivable world in 30 years'," he said.

During the conversation, Bishop Pompili discusses the 'Laudato si' Communities, which were established to mobilize individuals and organizations to address the ecological and social challenges outlined in “Laudato sì”. “What is your message for these communities?” the bishop asks the Pope.

Expressing his strong support for grassroots movements, the Holy Father acknowledges that real change often comes from the bottom up. Using the metaphor of water coming to a boil, “from the bottom up” - according to a natural law of physics - he emphasizes that change starts with the people and their commitment to transforming their communities and lifestyles.