In a significant announcement during his General Audience on November 6, 2024, Pope Francis articulated a new directive focusing on environmental sustainability within the Catholic Church. Addressing a gathering of thousands at St. Peter's Square, the Pope emphasized the integral role that the Church must play in advocating for and practicing environmental stewardship.

Pope Francis, known for his commitment to ecological issues, highlighted the urgency of responding to the environmental crisis through tangible Church-led initiatives. He outlined a comprehensive plan urging every Catholic diocese around the world to implement sustainable practices including the use of renewable energy sources, waste reduction programs, and sustainable land and water use practices.

The Pope’s directive also includes the establishment of an international ecclesiastical committee dedicated to monitoring and supporting the environmental efforts of dioceses globally. This committee is tasked with ensuring that the Church's environmental goals are met and with fostering a network of collaboration among Catholic communities worldwide.

This new initiative builds on the principles laid out in Pope Francis' 2015 encyclical, "Laudato si'," where he previously addressed issues of climate change and environmental degradation, urging global leaders and individuals alike to take "swift and unified global action."

The Vatican will reportedly release detailed guidelines on the implementation of these new sustainable practices within the first quarter of the upcoming year, aiming to set a precedent for other organizations and communities to follow. In his address, Pope Francis called on the Church's faithful and various entities to embrace these changes with a sense of urgency and responsibility, emphasizing that environmental conservation is a core Christian value that aligns with the safeguarding of creation.