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Is Pope Francis mulling adding an eighth deadly sin? Pontiff attempts to battle climate change by introducing 'ecological sins'

Talking in Rome on Friday, Pope Francis revealed it's "a duty" to introduce the new sin to the Church's teachings to try and protect "our common home"

BY RACHEL WINDSOR

UPDATED FEB 19, 2020

Pope Francis has revealed he is thinking about introducing "ecological sins" in an attempt to battle climate change.

Talking in Rome on Friday, Francis revealed it's "a duty" to introduce the new sin to the Catholic Church's teachings to try and protect "our common home". The news comes right after the Pope held a three-week bishops' assembly last month, known as the synod. The assembly addressed environmental dangers in the Amazon.

The Pope said, "We have to introduce, we are thinking about it, in the catechism of the Catholic Church, the sin against ecology, the sin against our common home, because it’s a duty." According to Crux Now, the pope was addressing members of the International Association of Penal Law in Rome.

Pope Francis arrives to celebrate Mass at Zayed Sport City on February 5, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Pope Francis visits the UAE for a landmark, three-day visit. It will be the first time that a Pope has ever come to the United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

At the same event, he also shared that politician who go into a fit of rage against homosexuals, gypsies and Jews reminded him of Hitler. "It is not coincidental that at times there is a resurgence of symbols typical of Nazism," the Pope said.

He said, "And I must confess to you that when I hear a speech someone responsible for order or for a government, I think of speeches by Hitler in 1934, 1936. With the persecution of Jews, gypsies, and people with homosexual tendencies, today these actions are typical (and) represent ''par excellence'' a culture of waste and hate. That is what was done in those days and today it is happening again."

Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Zayed Sport City on February 5, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Pope Francis is on a historic three-day visit to the UAE, the first time a Pontiff has visited the Arabian peninsula. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

During the Nazi regime in Germany, around 6 million Jews were killed in 1933-1945. Homosexuals, gypsies were amongst the people who were sent to extermination camps. During his speech, the Pope, who hails from Argentina, did not mention any politicians or countries but it is likely that he had Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro in mind.

Bolsonaro, who took office on January 1, has a history of making homophobic, sexist and racist comments in public. According to DailyMail, in one interview he said he would rather have a dead son than a son who is gay.