It is with profound sorrow that Catholic Concern for Animals (CCA) has learnt of the passing of Pope Francis. As a Catholic charity, we mourn the loss of an enlightened and inspiring leader who guided the Church with love and compassion for all of God’s creatures. His ground-breaking Encyclical Laudato Si’ has been the bedrock of CCA’s work since its publication in 2015. The Encyclical’s rejection of despotic anthropocentrism, and its exhortation to hear the cries of the suffering and to cultivate an ethos of care for all creation are more relevant than ever in the turmoil of today’s world. Confident that Pope Francis is now resting in God’s arms, we are immensely grateful for his gift. He will be sorely missed but his legacy will continue to shine a light on our path as we pursue CCA’s charitable mission to advance Christian respect and responsibility for the animal creation within the Catholic tradition.

21 April 2025