About 18 months ago, I was at home in Papua New Guinea when a papal ambassador visited me with unexpected news. The Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea was receiving its very first cardinal, and it was I who had been appointed.

From that life-changing moment, one question has been foremost in my mind: how to best serve my people? For us in Papua New Guinea, as for many people here in the U.S., the answer is both simple and very challenging. One of the best ways to serve everyday people is to address climate change.