The Vatican just pulled off one of the most bizarre political stunts in recent memory.
A major Hollywood star flew into Rome to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Pope Leo XIV at a climate conference that’s making heads spin across the globe.
And this unlikely alliance produced one message that left faithful Catholics wondering what planet their Church leadership is living on.
Schwarzenegger outlines strategy to mobilize Catholic Church infrastructure for climate activism
The three-day Vatican gathering marks the 10th anniversary of the late Pope Francis’s climate manifesto "Laudato Si" – and the new Pope Leo XIV is doubling down on his predecessor’s environmental activism.
More than 1,000 religious leaders, climate experts, and political leaders descended on Castel Gandolfo outside Rome for the Vatican’s "Raising Hope for Climate Justice" conference.
But it was Schwarzenegger’s message that grabbed everyone’s attention.³
"There is not one single person who can ‘terminate’ pollution alone," the actor told a Vatican press conference, playing off his famous Terminator catchphrase.⁴
He didn’t stop there.⁵
"We have to work together. You have 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, and you have 200,000 churches, and you have approximately 400,000 priests. Imagine the power of communication," Schwarzenegger continued.⁶
"Every single one of those 1.4 billion Catholics can be a crusader for the environment."⁷
The former Republican governor of California has been pushing environmental causes since leaving political office in 2011.⁸
He once admitted he was "starstruck" and totally enamored by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg.⁹
Pope Leo XIV continues predecessor’s environmental campaign
U.S.-born Pope Leo XIV, who was elected in May following Francis’s death, wasted no time picking up his predecessor’s environmental crusade.¹⁰
The new Pope insists it’s time to swap words for "decisive and coordinated climate action."¹¹
Schwarzenegger dismissed Trump’s climate policies and backed the Vatican’s environmental push instead.¹²
The former governor argued that personal choices, state laws, and Church leadership matter more than federal climate policy.¹³
Schwarzenegger has battled Washington on environmental issues before – he fought the Bush administration over California’s emission standards and called for continued climate action after Trump pulled out of the Paris Agreement.¹⁴
The three-day conference drew bishops, scientists, indigenous leaders, and activists from around the globe.¹⁵
Cardinal Jaime Spengler of Brazil appeared alongside Schwarzenegger to promote the Church’s climate agenda.¹⁶
Vatican’s climate focus raises questions about priorities
Here’s what this Vatican-Hollywood partnership really represents.
Schwarzenegger knows exactly what he’s doing by teaming up with Church leadership on climate activism.
The timing tells the story.
American Catholics are dealing with inflation hitting their grocery bills and gas tanks. They’re watching the border crisis unfold on the news every night.
Meanwhile, the Vatican hosts a thousand-person conference about reducing carbon emissions.
Trump campaigned on putting America First – focusing on jobs, security, and the economy over global climate initiatives.
Catholics voted for those priorities in huge numbers.
But now Church leadership is doubling down on the environmental activism that many faithful Catholics see as secondary to more pressing concerns.
The disconnect runs deeper than politics.
Traditional Catholics expect their Church to focus on spiritual salvation and moral guidance.
Environmental activism feels like mission drift to many parishioners who want their priests talking about sin, redemption, and eternal life – not solar panels and emissions targets.
Schwarzenegger’s "crusader" language might energize climate activists, but it probably frustrates Catholics who think the Church already has enough real crusades to fight.
The Vatican can certainly host climate conferences and partner with Hollywood celebrities.
But Church leaders shouldn’t be surprised if everyday Catholics start questioning whether Vatican priorities match their own.
¹ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vatican press conference, Vatican City, September 30, 2025.
² Simon Kent, "Pope, Schwarzenegger Join Forces: Urge Catholics to ‘Terminate’ Climate Change," Breitbart, October 1, 2025.
³ Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vatican press conference, Vatican City, September 30, 2025.
⁴ Ibid.
⁵ Ibid.
⁶ Ibid.
⁷ Ibid.
⁸ Simon Kent, "Pope, Schwarzenegger Join Forces: Urge Catholics to ‘Terminate’ Climate Change," Breitbart, October 1, 2025.
⁹ Ibid.
¹⁰ Ibid.
¹¹ Ibid.
¹² Ibid.
¹³ Ibid.
¹⁴ Ibid.
¹⁵ Ibid.
¹⁶ Ibid.
