Pope Francis’s forthcoming encyclical on climate change and nature looks set to be one of the defining statements of his pontificate. In the two years that he has occupied the throne of St Peter, the Argentine pontiff has charted a radical course, departing from his predecessors on key topics such as sexuality and marriage while pursuing reforms to the administration of the Church itself. Now, he is intervening in one of the most heated political and scientific debates of our age in a way that will delight many environmentalists and alarm conservatives among his flock.
教皇方济各(Pope Francis)即将发表的关于气候变化和自然的通谕，看来将成为其教皇任期内具有代表性的声明之一。在登上圣彼得宝座的两年里，这位阿根廷籍教皇为自己绘制了一条激进路线，他在性别与婚姻等关键议题上采取了与前几任教皇不同的态度，同时推动教会管理改革。如今，他正在介入我们这个时代最激烈的政治与科学争论之一。他的介入将使许多环保主义者感到欢欣鼓舞，也会让其信徒中的保守人士感到惊慌。