The late Pope Francis leaves a void in global climate policy and an ambivalent legacy. On the one hand, the head of the Catholic Church stressed the urgency of climate policy worldwide through his statements and letters and gave the issue an ethical and moral significance. On the other hand, he failed to anchor the issue strategically or through institutions in the Vatican’s domestic and foreign policy and, on some human rights issues, made pacts with the countries slowing down the climate process. Whether the Catholic Church will continue to pursue its role as a warning voice on climate action, human rights and sustainable development will depend on his successor and is therefore completely open.