Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has honored the late Pope Francis, who passed away at the age of 88. He remembers him as a "transformational leader" both within the Catholic Church and in the global fight against climate change.
The Oscar-winning actor met Pope Francisin 2016 while working on his climate change documentary Before the Flood. He shared photos from their meeting on Instagram alongside a heartfelt message.
"Pope Francis was a transformational leader — not only for the Catholic Church, but also for environmental reform and activism," DiCaprio wrote.
He reflected on the Pope’s 2015 encyclical, a letter sent to churches worldwide, which emphasized the moral responsibility to protect the planet.
"This powerful document served as a clarion call for a fundamental shift in how we relate to the planet," DiCaprio noted, praising Francis' call for unity in caring for "our common home."
The actor credited the Pope’s words with helping to drive momentum toward the 2015 COP21 climate summit, which led to the landmark Paris Agreement.
