This morning Pope Francis released an encyclical about climate change. People have been talking about it for months and eagerly waiting to see what would be said. An encyclical is a papal letter sent to all bishops of the Roman Catholic Church. Of particular note, the letter basically establishes the church’s position on an issue.

The reason this document has attracted so much attention is the fact that the Pope has taken a stand on a controversial issue, human-caused climate change. Now I have not yet read the text, but the Pope was expected to speak of climate change in broad terms and bring moral, ethical and religious concerns to a debate which has often been framed as only an environmental one.

A leaked version of the encyclical quotes the Pope as saying “climate change raises the deepest questions about humanity…what is our ethical and moral responsibility to each other?”. And I will bet we will read something about climate change affecting those who are the poorest and least equipped to handle the burdens brought on by extreme drought, devastating floods, and horrific wildfires.

The encyclical should have far-reaching effects. It may change the nature of political discussions among the presidential candidates in the United States, and hopefully will positively affect the outcome of the United Nations Climate Change talks in Paris in December. A new global climate treaty is to be crafted at that time.

Critics of Pope Francis will say that he should not discuss scientific matters. That said, I am sure he has relied on the best scientific information.  And I am certain the Pope has listened to Caritas Internationalis (the Church’s overseas aid agency) telling him that development work with the world’s poorest is being undone by climate change effects. The bottom line, those who have contributed the least to climate change are paying the highest price in terms of its consequences, and that includes the animal kingdom.