Pope Francis meets with climate activist Al Gore

By a Vatican News reporter

Pope Francis met Friday with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who is in Rome for a three-day summit sponsored by his “Climate Reality Project.”

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, Gore congratulated the pope on the impact of the encyclical. Laudato si on the 2015 Paris Accords on climate change, and for the recent Apostolic Exhortation Laudate Deum. Gore described the Vatican as an example of “ecological transition” in practice, highlighting the announcement of the creation of an agrivoltaic plant in Santa Maria di Galeria.

For his part, Pope Francis thanked Al Gore for “the climate concern that has always inspired his political activity.” The two leaders agreed “on the need to accelerate the transition despite the resistance of large companies in the fossil fuel sector” and “discussed possible forms of collaboration to try to have a greater impact on public opinion.”

After the private meeting at the pope’s residence at Casa Santa Marta, Gore visited St. Peter’s Basilica, where he met with Cardinal Archpriest Mauro Gambetti. The papal basilica’s communications director, Father Enzo Fortunato, said Gore was committed to contributing to the upcoming Universal Children’s Day, in 2026, as well as the upcoming jubilee year in 2025.