Pope Leo XIV blessed a block of ice at the Raising Hope for Climate Justice conference near Rome, a symbolic act emphasizing the urgency of climate action. Attendees, including actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, waved a blue tarp as part of the demonstration.
“We will raise hope by demanding that leaders act with courage, not delay. Will you join with us?” Pope Leo said during his address.
He criticized those who dismiss climate science, echoing the concerns of his predecessor, Pope Francis: “Some have chosen to deride the increasingly evident signs of climate change, to ridicule those who speak of global warming, and even to blame the poor for the very thing that affects them the most.”
❗️⚠️🇻🇦 – The Disturbing Papal “Blessing” of an Ice Block: A Pagan Drift in Modern Catholicism
On September 28, 2025, during a Vatican symposium on climate resilience and Indigenous wisdom amid the ongoing 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Leo XIV participated in a ceremony that… pic.twitter.com/7a20LNYJN2
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) October 1, 2025
Critique of Climate Deniers and Political Leaders
Pope Leo’s remarks were seen as a subtle critique of US President Donald Trump, who last month called climate change a “con” and dismissed renewable energy initiatives.
“The carbon footprint is a hoax made up by people with evil intentions, and they’re heading down a path of total destruction,” Trump had said at the UN General Assembly.
The Pope emphasized that citizens must actively pressure politicians to protect the environment: “Only then will it be possible to mitigate the damage done to the environment.”
Symbolic Ice Blessing
At the conference, Pope Leo performed a symbolic blessing of a block of ice representing melting polar ice caps.
“Lord of Life, bless this water, may it awaken our hearts, cleanse our indifference, soothe our grief, and renew our hope, through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
He then blessed the assembly and the entire conference. Schwarzenegger praised the Pope as a real-world “action hero,” highlighting the impact of the symbolic gesture.
Marking Laudato Si’ Anniversary
The event commemorated the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical on climate and environmental responsibility. Experts note that the document helped set the tone for the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement. Pope Leo stressed the need for global citizen engagement in combating politically divisive environmental issues.
Pope Leo on True Pro-Life Values
Beyond climate issues, Pope Leo addressed broader social concerns. Responding to controversy over pro-choice Senator Dick Durbin declining the Cardinal Bernardin Award, he said: Opposing abortion while supporting the death penalty or harsh treatment of immigrants does not represent a true pro-life stance.
Pope Leo’s speech at Castel Gandolfo reinforced his commitment to climate advocacy, social justice, and moral leadership, calling on citizens worldwide to take meaningful action.
