Russell Simmons Pens Open Letter to Pope

Music mogul and long-time vegan Russell Simmons recently penned an open letter to Pope Francis asking him to include the plight of animals in agriculture in his teachings on ethics and climate change. Simmons appealed to Pope Francis’ progressive views and commended his decision to not wear fur-trimmed papal capes, but pointed out that Francis’ preaching fell short when it came to animal rights. Simmons quoted the Pope in saying that “it is contrary to human dignity to cause any animals to suffer or die needlessly,” and “all creation has an intrinsic value that is independent of its usefulness” before providing examples of how animal agriculture is contrary to these statements. Simmons also explained how Pope Francis represents “blossoming hope” before ending his letter with a plea to the pontiff: “I only humbly ask that you continue to spread the word, Your Holiness, of doing no harm.”