John Allen predicts reaction to coming encyclical on the environment, starting with headlines saying Pope “backs strong limits on greenhouse gas emissions,” as if he “issued a political manifesto aligning himself with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, if not Greenpeace.”

That won’t be “entirely wrong,” says Allen.

Francis is indeed likely to accept the scientific consensus [sic] that global warming and climate change are real, and that human activity is the main cause. He’ll almost certainly call on nations to take strong action to address it. [Italics added]

Ah relevance, that will of the wisp that draws even supreme pontiffs into its orbit.

Question: Accepting this so-called consensus (consider the rascally deniers if you dare), will the Pope say why he accepts it? Will he invite discussion? (Heh: When do preachers invite discussion of anything?)

Will he become an important source for the global scientific community…