A new pope and the global ecological conversation?

China’s main media outlets are not expected to report extensively on the election of the new Pope, as the Holy See and China do not maintain formal diplomatic ties. While coverage may touch on the electoral process, it is unlikely to be linked to Chinese domestic or foreign policy. China did not send a delegation to Rome to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. However, at a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun offered respectful remarks: “We express our condolences on the passing of Pope Francis. In recent years, China and the Vatican have maintained constructive contact and engaged in positive exchanges.”

I am not Chinese, and I approach this topic as an observer interested in global politics rather than religious affairs. Nevertheless, the election of a new Pope invites reflection on questions of international relevance — particularly in these turbulent times. The newly elected Pope — now Pope Leo XIV — is the first in history to come from the United States and also holds Peruvian citizenship. He has served for many years in Latin America, a region increasingly recognised as vital to the future of the planet, particularly in terms of ecology and sustainable development. The next COP will be held in the Amazon, in Belem.

In 2019, the Amazon Synod convened under Pope Francis. That synod emphasised the urgent need to apply the principle of integral ecology as outlined in Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s 2015 encyclical On Care for Our Common Home.

It is too early to say how Pope Leo XIV will reign. However, Leo XIV has spoken about the urgent need for action on climate change, stressing that the Church must move “from words to action.” He has also warned of the dangers of uncritical technological development and called for a more respectful, reciprocal relationship with nature — one that avoids domination and exploitation.

His decision to take the name Leo XIV suggests a focus on social issues. His namesake, Pope Leo XIII, was the author of Rerum Novarum, a seminal encyclical on social justice and the rights of workers, calling for responsible capitalism.

When reflecting on the election of the new Pope, it is worth noting the broader political and ethical frameworks that intersect with these themes, along with the significant soft power of the Holy See. Pope Francis played an important role in supporting the Paris Agreement and consistently emphasised the moral imperative of protecting our shared home.

This idea — the care for our common home — bears resonance with the concept of a “Community of Shared Future for Mankind,” articulated in Xi Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. This vision calls on countries to collaborate in confronting global challenges, particularly environmental degradation and climate change.

This shared perspective highlights China’s efforts in promoting ecological responsibility and global cooperation within the multilateral system. Xi Jinping’s now-classic — dare I say, canonical — quotation, “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” underscores the belief that harmony between humanity and nature is both a development strategy and a moral commitment.

The pursuit of ecological civilisation is not only central to China’s — and, indeed, the world’s — economic modernisation, but it is also an increasingly critical pillar of sustainable global peace.

In a world increasingly shaped by the resurgence of great power politics, wars, environmental stress, rapid technological change, and shifting geopolitical landscapes, the leadership of spiritual and political figures can help signal broader societal priorities. While religious leadership operates in a different domain from statecraft, shared concerns — such as peaceful cohabitation, climate resilience, ecological protection, and global cooperation — create important opportunities for mutual understanding and collective action.

Let no one be under any illusions. Regardless of how powerful a state may be, no one can be saved alone. Politics cannot be solely transactional; ideas and shared values play the most crucial role in shaping our collective future.

As Pope Leo XIV begins his papacy, the global community may find in his early messages a renewed call to care for the Earth — not as a matter of doctrine, but as a shared responsibility.

illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.