https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3EBHebH17Y

Over 3 million views in its first week! The timing is perfect for the documentary film The Letter, in order to make accessible – to both hearts and minds - the issues being addressed at the COP27 (United Nations Climate Change Conference) being held at the present time, and at the COP15 on biodiversity scheduled for December 5 to 19 in Montreal.

The Letter was released on October 4, the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Cardinal Michael Czerny, who grew up in Montreal, spoke at the press conference after attending a preview of the film at the Vatican as prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.  

"The film, produced by Oscar-winning producers of Off the Fence (My Octopus Teacher) explores issues including Indigenous rights, climate migration, and youth leadership in the context of action on climate and nature. The highlight of the film is the exclusive dialogue that the protagonists have with Pope Francis. " 

Louise Royer, Director of the Social Action Office, worked on promotion for The Letter to colleagues of the Front commun pour la transition énergétique, (United front for energy transition). She received a comment from a viewer in the Quebec City area: "We saw the film yesterday, and we thought it was really beautiful, although it's always troubling to see how slowly things are changing."

Available in several languages, the film can be viewed at:

The letter (theletterfilm.org) (in English)

https://theletterfilm.org/fr/watch-fr/ (in French)  

Groups can also host a screening.

Seeing The Letter is especially recommended for those in the diocese’s four sectors where, in association with the Front commun pour la transition énergétique, “net-zero communities” are being established: Lachine, Laval, Ahuntsic and L'Assomption - Autray. It is also important to encourage our communities in their prayers for the delegations - particularly the interfaith delegation - who are preparing to participate in the COP15 in Montreal in December.

Those with less time available will find that the "Laudato Si’ 101" video clips are useful in order to acquaint themselves with the “letter” - the encyclical Laudato Si’ – alluded to in the film. These video clips, animated by Kim Piché of the Social Action Office (English) and Msgr. André Tiphane (French), can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?app=desktop&list=PLw9CvRQROk4tR1Nxm8DeWseTFc5-w5W4D

The encyclical in its entirety is available at any good bookseller’s or here, in electronic format:
https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html