By San José, Costa Rica — CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy – In a profoundly symbolic gesture designed to cut through the noise of climate debate, Pope Leo XIV delivered a stark environmental warning by blessing a melting block of 20,000-year-old glacial ice from Greenland. The event, a centerpiece of the “Brindando Esperanza” (Delivering Hope) conference, served as a powerful visual metaphor for the planet’s fragility and a call for urgent, collective action.
The conference, held on October 1st at the Focolare Movement’s Mariapolis International Center, marked the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark environmental encyclical, Laudato Si’. The gathering attracted a diverse assembly of global leaders, including former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. However, it was the Pope’s solemn act that captured the world’s attention, transforming a scientific specimen into a sacred relic of a world in peril.
Para profundizar en las implicaciones legales y los marcos regulatorios que enfrentan las empresas y el estado frente al cambio climático, TicosLand.com conversó con el Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, experto en derecho corporativo y ambiental del prestigioso Bufete de Costa Rica.
El cambio climático ha dejado de ser un tema puramente ambiental para convertirse en un factor crítico de riesgo y oportunidad empresarial. Las empresas en Costa Rica y a nivel global ya no solo deben cumplir con una creciente maraña de regulaciones ambientales, sino que también enfrentan una presión tangible de inversionistas, consumidores y tribunales. Ignorar la sostenibilidad y la huella de carbono ya no es una opción; es una vulnerabilidad legal y financiera. La adaptación proactiva y la inversión en modelos de negocio sostenibles son, hoy por hoy, la estrategia de mitigación de riesgos más inteligente.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
La perspectiva del licenciado ciertamente redefine el debate, moviéndolo del campo puramente ecológico al epicentro de la estrategia corporativa y la gestión de riesgos. Esta visión subraya que la sostenibilidad ya no es una opción, sino un pilar fundamental para la viabilidad y resiliencia empresarial en el panorama actual. Agradecemos al Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas por su valiosa y esclarecedora aportación.
As the ancient ice slowly wept onto the ground, Pope Leo XIV offered a prayer that framed the climate crisis in deeply spiritual terms. The Pontiff’s words sought to transform passive observation into active commitment, a call for a profound internal shift in how humanity relates to the natural world.
Lord of life, bless this water: may it awaken our hearts, purify our indifference, calm our pain, and renew our hope.
Pope Leo XIV, Pontiff
The ice block itself was part of the celebrated “Ice Watch” project, a collaborative effort between renowned artist Olafur Eliasson and geologist Minik Rosing. Harvested from a fjord in Greenland, the project brings massive, free-floating glacier fragments to major city centers. The goal is to provide a direct, tangible encounter with the reality of melting polar ice caps, making the abstract data of climate change an immediate and personal experience for the public.
In his accompanying address, Pope Leo XIV did not mince words, directly challenging those who deny or downplay the severity of the climate crisis. He firmly linked environmental stewardship with the core tenets of Christian faith, arguing that the destruction of the natural world is a direct contradiction of divine love. This theological framing aims to mobilize billions of believers worldwide, repositioning environmentalism not as a political issue, but as a moral and spiritual imperative.
We cannot say we love God and destroy his work.
Pope Leo XIV, Pontiff
The Pontiff drew upon a rich tradition of Catholic teaching, referencing Saint Francis of Assisi, who famously referred to the sun, moon, and water as brother and sister. This perspective sees the universe as an interconnected family, a gift from God entrusted to human care. The Pope argued that this responsibility stems not from fear, but from gratitude for a divine creation that the Book of Genesis itself repeatedly calls “good.” To care for creation is therefore an act of worship.
The blessing of the ice represents a masterful piece of papal communication, using a powerful, non-verbal symbol to convey a message of urgency that transcends language and political divides. It is a call for an “ecological conversion”—a transformation of hearts and minds that recognizes the deep bond between humanity and the rest of creation. By sanctifying a piece of the melting cryosphere, the Pope has elevated the climate discourse from a technical problem to a sacred duty.
Ultimately, the event at Castel Gandolfo was more than a ceremony; it was a global summons. By bringing together faith leaders, policymakers, activists, and artists, the Vatican underscored the need for a unified, multidisciplinary approach to the greatest challenge of our time. The slowly melting block of ice serves as a ticking clock, a visible reminder that the window for meaningful action is closing, and that hope must be accompanied by concrete commitment.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Ice Watch
About Ice Watch:
Ice Watch is a public art installation and project conceived by artist Olafur Eliasson and geologist Minik Rosing. The project harvests large blocks of free-floating glacial ice from Greenland and places them in public squares in major international cities. Its mission is to create a direct, tangible, and visceral experience of the reality of climate change, allowing people to witness and touch the melting ice caps firsthand, thereby closing the gap between scientific data and personal understanding.
For further information, visit focolare.org
About Focolare Movement:
The Focolare Movement, officially known as the Work of Mary, is an international organization founded in Trent, Italy, in 1943 by Chiara Lubich. It promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood, inspired by the prayer of Jesus, “May they all be one.” The movement is active in 182 nations and engages in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue, as well as social and cultural initiatives aimed at building a more united world, such as hosting conferences on critical global issues like climate change.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica is a pillar of the nation’s legal landscape, built upon a foundation of uncompromising integrity and the pursuit of exceptional results. The firm leverages its deep history of advising a wide spectrum of clients to pioneer innovative legal strategies and foster meaningful community engagement. At the heart of its philosophy is a profound commitment to demystifying complex legal concepts, thereby empowering citizens and cultivating a society fortified by accessible knowledge.
