Lo and behold there was social activist Naomi Klein at the Vatican today. And no, not leading any protest march – she was in the Vatican Press office singing the praises of Pope Francis and his Encyclical on the climate. Yes, it was hard to believe, I was rubbing my eyes a bit myself, but there she was speaking about the “courage” or Pope Francis and the “poetry” of his words with the Pope’s spokesman Father Federico Lombardi looking on approvingly.
And I must admit Mozzarella Mamma was looking on approvingly too. I have not read her books but I liked this outspoken writer, activist mother. My sister, a big environmentalist had heard she would be there a few days ago and urged me to go and I was glad to see her.
Klein was invited by the Vatican to take part in a climate conference over the next few days titled “People and Planet First: The Imperative to Change Course.”
Sitting beneath a large Vatican crest, Klein admitted up front that “as a secular Jewish feminist” she was “surprised to be invited by the Vatican.”
Klein urged the whole world to read Pope Francis’ encyclical saying, “Read it and let it into your hearts. The grief at what we have already lost, and the celebration of what we can still protect…”
Since I did not cover the release of the encyclical (I was in Northern Italy covering Michelle Obama), I want to share some key quotes from the Encyclical “Laudato, Si”
It opens: “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us.”
The Pope goes on: “This sister now cries out to us because of the harm we have inflicted on her by our irresponsible use and abuse of the goods with which God has endowed her. We have come to see ourselves as her lords and masters, entitled to plunder her at will. The violence present in our hearts, wounded by sin, is also reflected in the symptoms of sickness evident in the soil, in the water, in the air and in all forms of life. This is why the earth herself, burdened and laid waste, is among the most abandoned and maltreated of our poor….”
The Pope wrote that young people are demanding change, he denounces “compulsive consumerism” and pushes for a “bold cultural revolution” to combat climate change.
Klein, author of the best-seller “No Logo” and more recently “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate” has been one of the most outspoken leaders of the No-Global movement. Many of her anti-capitalist arguments dove-tail with views of Pope Francis.
In his Encyclical, the Pope did not shy away from denouncing economic powers writing, “economic powers continue to justify the current global system where priority tends to be given to speculation and the pursuit of financial gain, which fail to take the context into account, let alone the effects on human dignity and the natural environment.”
The Pope said that the earth “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth.” He denounced the “throwaway culture which affects the excluded just as it quickly reduces things to rubbish. ”
At the Vatican today Klein said “and now we are confronted with the reality that we were never the master, never that boss- and that we are unleashing natural forces that are far more powerful than even our most ingenious machines. We can save ourselves, but only if we let go of the myth of dominance and mastery and learn to work with nature…”
So why did the Vatican invite Naomi Klein. Perhaps the answer was in the Encyclical itself where the Pope declared, “I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.”
Of course one of the first questions Klein received was about her differences with the Pope and the Vatican on certain issues, such as population control, and her thoughts on Catholics who opposed her presence at the Vatican.
Klein neatly batted away the question declaring that they have made an “alliance on a specific issue, it is not a merger.” She pointed out that “Nobody is being asked to agree on everything,” and added that in order to fight climate change “people have to get out of their comfort zones.”
In his Encyclical the Pope wrote, “Many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms…”
There has been a fair amount of criticism of the Encyclical from Republicans in the United States with Presidential Candidate Jeb Bush and others saying the Pope is not a scientist and should not meddle in politics.
Today Naomi Klein had some thoughts on that, noting that: “This (the encyclical) could mean real trouble for American politicians who are counting on using the Bible as a cover for their opposition to climate action. In this regard, Pope Francis’s trip to the U.S. this September could not be better timed.”
Pope Francis will visit Cuba and the United States from September 19th through 28th. He will be the first Pope to address a joint session of Congress on September 24th and will address the UN in addition to meeting with prisoners, homeless people and immigrants. (I will be traveling on the Papal plane and covering the whole trip for AP Television)
When pushed on the question of why the Pope invited her, Klein said, ““Given the attacks that are coming from the Republican party around this and also the fossil fuel interests in the United States, it was a particularly courageous decision to invite me here. I think it indicates that the Holy See is not being intimidated, and knows that when you say powerful truths, you make some powerful enemies and that’s part of what this is about.”
The Pope’s Encyclical is making him very popular among progressives, not just Naomi Klein. I was very amused by this cartoon showing the Pope in a car with bumper stickers which remind me of cars one sees in Cambridge, Massachusetts where I was born.
I know the pope has gotten a lot of flack for dipping into environmental issues, but I think it’s about time the issue was brought to the forefront by world leaders – even religious leaders. I hope this spurs more debate on climate during the upcoming presidential election. There are some efforts here in the US to help reduce car emissions and improve fuel efficiency but what about all those electronic devices we as Americans are addicted to – and the toxic waste it creates in countries where they are shipped to when we consumers throw them out and move on to the next “new thing”? What are we doing to the people and terrain of those countries?
How wonderful for you that you will get to be here with the pope during his visit to the US. I will be in Italy for our writing workshop at that time, but will be following his appearances and events with interest. I’m sorry I’ll also miss the potential chance to see you in the U.S. – maybe another time!
. . what is needed is total system change – production to meet need not profit. Trouble is, most people get caught up in the word ‘Socialism’ without actually understanding what real socialism actually is – and, they can’t be bothered to find out.
Another interesting read. I have heard of Naomi Klein but know very little about her. This shed some light. I really don’t understand how people can object to the Vatican inviting her. But I should know there are enough narrow minded people in my religion. I love the cartoon. I will admit I have only read snippets of the encyclical, but like what I have read. And now that the Supreme Court has thrown out the President’s rules on emissions from power plants the Pope’s ideas seem ever more important. I hope he has a few words (really I’d prefer many words, but he’s probably too polite) on the subject for our Congress and the climate deniers there and those running for President. Whoops I think I’m off on a sermon so will just close saying how great that you get to travel on the papal plane. I will look forward to reading about it.
A presto,
Joan
Thanks Joan — I will be traveling on the Papal plane but most of the events will be pooled and I am not sure how many of the key pools I will be in. I certainly hope I am there for the speech in Congress because I am very eager to hear what he has to say. As far as the encyclical is concerned, I suggest you read the entire thing. It is fascinating and easy to read. It is easy to find on line– but I know they are also selling hard copies in bookstores.
Let me say a few words of praise: I am wild about this Pope, and have long been about his patron St. Francis, and am gushing with admiration over his encyclical, much of which will be basic Christian teaching from now on. And now a caveat about Naomi Klein, whom I also admire a lot, but whom I question in her new role as Vatican spokeswoman on the environment: I see her as a red flag, because the Pope could have chosen to stand beside Katherine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US, who has been trucking on environmental issues, and on poverty issues, for the past nine years. He could stand with her newly elected successor, Michael Curry, an African American, also long a spokesman on these things. He could have invited Rev. Sally Bingham, Episcopal priest and founder of Interfaith Power and Light, a strong, nationwide organization focussed on preservation of the environment, and her friend and colleague, Bill McKibben, author and founder of 360.org, and leading environmental spokesman in the US, not a cleric but an active and professing Christian. But instead he, and presumably the Vatican, invited someone who in no way manifests any kind of religious alliance for the Vatican on this issue. I think this was deliberate, and I think by doing this the Vatican has reduced the importance of this encyclical from major to minor. You know the politics inside the Vatican over this has been huge. I am afraid Naomi Klein represents a victory for the conservatives–her 15 minutes will end, and then this will be over, another encyclical sitting on a shelf. It could have been the beginning of world wide interfaith work. But they didn’t even bring in a Rabbi who is active on the subject. No real power here, just a little celebrity glamor.
Nancy — that is a fascinating comment and I will let it stand on its own because it is very important. I really had no idea about all those individuals that you mentioned and you are right that in this case it looks like the Vatican went for the high-profile glamourous celebrity to maximize media attention. And as part of the media, it looks like I fell into the trap.
Well as you know Trisha, I think she has really connected with the Pope on the issue of climate change greatly impacting the poor. And, I feel they are right on, on this point. The real losers of global warming are those with little or no voice. Where she is going to most ruffle feathers with others, as you point out, is her strong belief that the biggest cause of climate change is the way we do business in this globalized economy that is highly inefficient and resource intensive (fossil fuels). She feels strongly that the way we do business in the developed world lines the pockets of the 1% and ultimately impoverishes the rest of us, particularly the poor and the natural environment. She does not consider herself a scientist. She argues that 97% of climate scientists, including those with major national and international agencies, have proof of global warming and the impact of humans. She is primarily concerned with the social, political and economic aspects of the issue. The Pope is trying to bring this to a broad audience and to challenge the powers that be. Bringing in a “secular Jewish feminist” and social activist really says a lot. Clearly they see eye to eye on the impact of climate change on the poor and the causes of global warming. I love her response “this is an alliance on a specific issue, not a merger.” I look forward to hearing about their productive discussions at this conference leading to both the Pope’s trip in the fall to the US (with you in tow!!) and ultimately to the climate change conference in Paris in the fall. Perhaps AP will send you to Paris to cover it?!?!? And if that happens you most certainly will need a camera woman – hint, hint!! Thanks for going to this. Great to have an insider there!
Gwen — thank you for your comment and for encouraging me to cover this event. You clearly know much more about this than I do so I will let your comment stand for itself.
Or to follow up on Nancy’s comment above, he could have invited Katharine Heyhoe from Texas Tech University. She is a climate change scientist and an evangelical christian who tries to bridge the gap between climate change issues and religion. She wrote “A Climate for Change: Global Warming Facts for Faith-Based Decisions.” She was also one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people for 2014. There are lots of talented folks out there. I am glad it is on the Pope’s agenda and it is important that we push it forward.
How interesting — I have never heard of Katharine Heyhoe either– I am so un-informed on this whole climate change question. I need to start reading–and perhaps becoming more active too. We all need to pitch in to Save the Planet!!