The Pope provides welcome help on winning the climate battle

My post last week highlighted the role that the arts can play in winning the hearts and minds of those who resist accepting the science of climate change, for whatever reason.

So, let's look this week at another non-traditional voice helping to move the nation and the world forward: Pope Francis. His Holiness will this summer release an encyclical on climate change and environmental degradation. The encyclical will make the link between climate change and poverty, thus making the case that believers have a moral responsibility to act on climate.

The Pope, of course, is one of the most influential humans on the globe. And this has some conservatives in this country worried, according to the New York Times: The Heartland Institute says the pontiff is being "misled" by scientists. (Heartland lacks not for chutzpah.)

Pope Francis is getting much attention in Philadelphia these days thanks to his upcoming visit in September to host the World Meeting of Families in the city. While in the country, the pontiff will also meet with President Obama in Washington, and the President has already indicated that climate change is on the agenda.

The U.S. population is about 22 percent Catholic, and 29 percent of Pennsylvanians are Catholic. A significant number of Pennsylvania's members of Congress and the state legislature self-identify as Catholic. We're delighted that Catholic members of the Pennsylvania Congressional delegation such as Senator Bob Casey and Rep. Mike Doyle are committed to action on climate. But I also wonder if this means that Senator Toomey and Rep. Tom Marino will heed the call of their spiritual and moral leader and commit to addressing climate change.

Let's hope (and dare I say pray?) that Pope Francis, like his eponym, St. Francis of Assisi, will use his moral authority to move our leaders to finally get serious about acting on climate.

Joy Bergey is PennFuture's federal policy manager and is based in Philadelphia. She tweets @joybergey.