To the editor: The holder says everything in the recent article of the Sammy Roth columnist about Pope Francis (“Pope Francis was a climate hero. Trump's reign gives his words an additional meaning.” April 22). I am not Catholic, but I cry the death of the Pope because he spoke for many of us. Francis had a history as a scientist before joining the priesthood, and was reflective and intelligent. Its second “Laudato Si '” which, as Roth points out, is “almost surely the most famous climate essay ever written”, leaves a rich legacy that we inherit and a call that we must pay attention.
Of the many photographs that circulate since the Pope died, my personal favorite was taken in Rome and represents a smiling Francis that faces the young environment Greta Thunberg holding a small poster that says: “Celebrate Laudato if”. “It reminds us that, for our species and other planetary species, we are connected, we must fight against the weather catastrophe.
Starflower Thomson, Joshua Tree
