Mining: God's Gift or Ecological Sin? Pope Leo Weighs In

At the end of January, Pope Leo XIV met at the Vatican with leaders of the mining industry. During the meeting, the Pope showed particular interest in the human dimension of extractive activities, calling on the industry to ensure full respect for human rights and the protection of the environment. He emphasized that economic development and the energy transition cannot move forward at the expense of vulnerable communities or fragile ecosystems.  He added: “Without minerals, we would not have many of the essential tools of modern life; for example, a surgical scalpel to save lives. Critical minerals and the care of biodiversity are fundamental. I had the opportunity to speak with the business leaders about their concrete actions to protect biodiversity." (Opis, January 30, 2026). My interpretation is that the Pope favors responsible mining. The question is what kind of regulatory framework is needed for mining to fit into this concept.

The Church and Anti-Mining Movements

The Catholic Church has played a significant role in promoting anti-mining social movements. This has been achieved not only through the Church's formal structure — cardinals, archbishops, and other similar figures — but also through the educational organizations it supports or administers (universities, educational centers, and associations). Examples of this include the recent anti-mining protests in Panama against a copper mine (led by Archbishop Ulloa Mendieta and Bishops Ochogavía and Hernández Catarero from the Apostolic Vicariate of Darién); in El Salvador (led by Archbishop Escobar, Fr. Tojeira, and Fr. Oliva) with a total ban on mining activities imposed in 2017 and only recently lifted in 2024; and in Guatemala, through protests led by Archbishop Ramazzini against a gold mine (around 2008 to 2015). These recent actions by the Church (2010-2024) give us pause for thought, given that mining generates employment and development in its area of ​​influence, and because minerals are essential for life. It can also be understood that in all human activities there are people who act responsibly and others who do not, and that social protests can help to bring irresponsible attitudes to light and correct them. However, this is not what has been observed; rather, total prohibition has been the goal.

The lines of thought that should guide the Church's actions should be based primarily on what the Bible says. However, they are also influenced by ideas developed by organizations close to the Church, which receive funding from entities with their own agendas.

Ideological Foundations Outside the Bible

In 2025, a report, “Catholic Approaches to Mining: A Framework for Reflection, Planning, and Action,” was published, written as a framework for action for the Catholic faith. The document argues that mining generates environmental degradation, human rights violations, forced displacement, violent conflicts, and other harms. It considers the role of the Catholic Church in accompanying communities affected by mining to be relevant, linking and involving local and global resources in this endeavor. This report was developed by Caritas, Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and sponsored by Catholic Peacebuilding Network, Laudato Si' Research Institute, Kroc Institute, and the University of Notre Dame. 

This same concept could be extended to almost any human activity, which, on a greater or lesser scale, could be accused of causing the same environmental and social damage. Agriculture and livestock farming are essential activities for humanity, altering natural areas to create the necessary spaces and using fertilizers and pesticides for crops to thrive. This leads to soil erosion and water pollution, impacting biodiversity. The same is true for urban development and any other industrial and technological activity. With an appropriate degree of responsibility, the damage can be minimized, but the impact is inevitable; human development generates impacts. 

Although the document is directed against formal and legal mining — the kind that pays taxes, complies with environmental and labor regulations, and is subject to public scrutiny — it seems to describe what happens in the field of illegal mining run by criminal groups. It has been observed that when formal mining is prohibited, it opens the door for illegal mining to flourish (for example, in Costa Rica in the Crucitas project area). There are cases worth examining where the regulatory framework encourages formal mining to collaborate with informal or artisanal mining, making it safer and less environmentally damaging, while simultaneously incorporating it into the formal sector.

The ideas presented in the document are justified by the fact that mining takes place in the Global South to satisfy the needs of the industrialized North, but it should be added that the South needs the products produced in the industrialized North. It recommends that the Church must do its part so that mining does not destroy our common home, does not destroy human dignity, and does not destroy our relationship with God, with our neighbors, and with the Earth itself. This justification is reasonable and worthy of defense; however, it focuses disproportionately on an industry we cannot do without and assumes that it is carried out irresponsibly. What is produced in the industrialized North also contributes to the global good, in the form of vehicles, electronic equipment, and so on. It seems that the proposal of this document is to foster mineral resource nationalism; however, not everyone in the Global South can achieve this, with some exceptions such as Chile, Brazil, Mexico, and Peru. In some of these countries, in addition to having a policy of natural resource nationalism, they do not reject international investment in mining.

Ideological Foundations in the Bible

Beyond what a group of organizations might propose, what the Bible says is even more relevant for guiding the Catholic people. In Deuteronomy 8:9, Moses describes the Promised Land not only as fertile but also as a land where they will find iron and copper; he presents the Promised Land as abundant in everything they will need, considering it a blessing. In Job 28:1-11, the author describes how “there are mines where silver is extracted and places where gold is refined; iron is extracted from the earth, and the stones, when smelted, produce copper.” This passage describes miners sinking shafts, working in deep darkness, damming streams, and extracting precious metals like silver, gold, iron, and copper (often translated as “brass” in older versions, but referring to copper). These texts show that the Bible acknowledges mining as an ancient human activity tied to God’s provision in creation.

My takeaways:

• Pope Leo XIV declares that responsible mining is what should be promoted, since minerals and metals are indispensable for human beings.

• God promises his people that in the promised land they will find the minerals they need, and this is interpreted as a blessing.

• The report on the Church's approach to mining is a guide to the actions that the Catholic faithful should consider defending nature and human dignity, but in reality, it promotes the prohibition of mining.

• It is possible that Pope Leo XIV's declarations have not yet permeated all levels of the Church, but it is also possible that this is a rebellious group, acting contrary to what the Bible and the Pope affirm? What is your takeaway?