The copyrighted story and audio recording re-posted here were written and produced by Devin Watkins and originally published by Vatican Radio. Re-posted with permission

Pope Francis’ recently-released Encyclical ‘Laudato si’ includes practical suggestions aimed at influencing government policies regarding climate change.

Daniel LeBlanc is a non-governmental organization (NGO) representative at the United Nations in New York for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) and VIVAT International.

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are a world-wide, missionary religious congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1816 by St. Eugene de Mazenod in southern France to preach the gospel to the poor and most abandoned. Their nearly 4,000 members are present in 67 counties.

VIVAT International, founded in 2000, is an NGO in Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and is comprised of 12 member Congregations.

Canadian-born Oblate priest, Father Daniel LeBlanc, spent almost 30 years of his missionary life in Peru before being tasked to the Congregation’s General Administration to represents both the Oblates and VIVAT at the UN.

Devin Watkins asked him how the Encyclical is affecting his advocacy work at the United Nations.

 

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE STORY AND TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW WITH FR. DANIEL LEBLANC ON VATICAN RADIO