Atheist or religous, Pope's enclical is a big deal

N

obody, whether atheist or religious, can deny that the Pope’s encyclical on caring for our common home is a big deal, according to Peter Burdon.

Writing in The Conversation, the senior lecturer in the Adelaide Law School at the University of Adelaide said its immediate importance comes from its potential to influence world leaders and galvanise the developing world ahead of the Paris Climate Conference this year.

“Moreover,” he writes, “ the encyclical positions Francis in conflict with conservative think tanks such as the Heartland Institute, future contenders for the US presidency (five Catholics are expected to challenge for the Republican nomination), and even climate deniers within the Vatican itself.

“The stage is set for a battle royale, and Francis shows little sign of flinching. Instead, he has asked readers to “receive this document with an open spirit”. Now that the encyclical has been published, we are in a position to evaluate it on its own terms,” Burdon says.

Read Peter Burdon’s story - “Pope Francis throws down the gauntlet for Paris climate summit”.