By Nelson Araque -

FORT LAUDERDALE | Students from Cardinal Gibbons High School recently visited U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson’s office to advocate for climate change. The visit was part of a Catholic Climate Covenant initiative to reach out to political leaders and express how climate change affects the lives of South Floridians. 

Juliette Selmeci, Alexa Verburg and Francesco Rizzo, seniors at Cardinal Gibbons High who are considering a future career in marine biology or a similar area, spoke to Lauren Parra, the regional coordinator for Sen. Nelson, about how they see the need for legislation that will provide citizens with the tools to confront climate change, especially here in South Florida.  

Last summer, Juliette and Francesco organized beach clean-ups to teach students and the general public about the tremendous necessity we have to preserve our beaches (See "Cleaning God’s creation”).

Catholic Climate Covenant’s initiative is in tune with Pope Francis’ recent encyclical, Laudato Si’. In his speech to Congress Sept. 23, the pope said, “We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.” (L.S. #14)

Catholic Climate Covenant’s initiative also aligns with Pope Francis’ request to “go out” and proclaim the good news to all because “we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and for the world.” (L.S. #229)

St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day, Oct. 4, also inspired students to reach out to political leaders, as St. Francis is the patron saint of animals and the ecology.  

InLaudato Si,’ Pope Francis presented St. Francis as someone “particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” 

Following St. Francis example can help everyone attain a better relationship with nature. However, we cannot forget the poor or the generations yet to come. For this reason it is time to act by reaching out to political leaders.  

As Pope Francis said: “Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a 'culture of care' (L.S. #231). A culture of care where students, politicians, teachers and ministers all have a role.