Pope proves worthy of saint

WHO could have guessed the first Pope to take his name from St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the poor and the environment, would actually advocate for the poor and the environment; and furthermore would act in accord with Jesus’ precept of not serving both God and mammon?

The world is indeed changing. Locally we have the prediction of a cyclone in July.

Instead of calling it “crazy weather”, we could make an intuitive leap and link the ap- pearance of mangoes in May and cyclones in July to climate change. We could focus on things we can change instead of things we can’t change.

And that is why coalitions of business, welfare groups, churches and other faiths, and environmental groups are being formed in Australia to address dangerous climate change and its impact on our people and our land.

Who could have known this was possible? Well, anyone who can follow a rational argu- ment; anyone who cares about future generations; anyone with a heart, really.

I was once told I could not be a Christian and a Green; the two were incompatible. My response was I am a Green because I am a Christian. So thank you, Francis. People worry/ wonder about how long you will remain as Pope but of this I am certain: your name will go down in the Book of Life.

JENNY STIRLING,

Stuart.