Environmental pioneer Josef Bierschneider celebrates 60 years of priest service!

Environmental pioneer Josef Bierschneider celebrates 60 years of priest service!

Eichstätt, Deutschland - The celebrations on the occasion of Pastor Josef Bierschneider's 60th anniversary are all about environmental protection and creation preservation. On June 29, 2025, a meeting of the Diocese of Eichstätt took place in Pfünz, which celebrated the tenth anniversary of the environmental and social cyclical Laudato Si '. Bierschneider, a well -known advocate of creation stology, has campaigned for the protection of soils and water in 1986 since his appointment as an environmental officer and urges the dangers of nuclear power. He sees himself as an ambassador of a spirituality that is deeply rooted in the appreciation of creation, how Bistum-eichststaett.de

Bierschneider grew up as a farmer's son in the parish of Staadorf near Dietfurt and has worked as a national pastor since 1976. During his ongoing career, he gave numerous lectures that underlined the importance of Thanksgiving and environmental responsibility. Last but not least, he made a name for himself through his networking with Bavarian colleagues and his participation in nationwide conferences. The bishop's word "Future of Creation, Future of People" from 1980 was a formative guideline for his work as an environmental pastor. Despite health setbacks, including a stroke in 2014, his interest in creation spirituality remains strong, so [vaticannews.de] (https://www.vaticannews.va/de/news/2025-si-si-szyklika papst-franziskus-leo-dumwelt-enhofer.hofer).

The legacy of Laudato Si

The Encyclical Laudato Si ’, published by Pope Francis on May 24, 2015, has significantly influenced Catholic social teaching in terms of climate change. This documentary considers nature and the environment as a common property of humanity and not only sharpened the awareness of the believers, but also moves the scientific community. It should be emphasized that the encyclical has withdrawn legitimation to the deniers of climate change. This also becomes clear through the active role of the Vatican at the climate negotiations in Paris (COP21), such as [vaticannews.de] (https://www.vaticannews.va/de/news/2025-si-si-si-szyklika papst-franziskus-lo-dumwelt-enhofer.html) holds.

The German climate researcher Ottmar Edenhofer, who participated in the creation of Laudato Si ’, emphasizes that the atmospheres and oceans should be regarded as community property. The new Pope Leo XIV has the opportunity to build on the teachings of Laudato Si 'and to strengthen the unity of the church for the common good. Edenhofer demands increased cooperation between science and faith in order to meet the challenges of our time.

a look ahead

The urgency of climate protection measures remains unbroken. Ten years after the publication of Laudato Si ’, the call for international multilateralism and fair resource uses is getting louder. Despite the multitude of skeptics and denying climate change, which Edenhofer describes as not scientifically sound, the bridge between faith and science is essential to master the current ecological challenges.