California politicians head to Vatican for social justice talk

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Some California leaders will head to the Vatican next week to take part in a conversation about social justice and climate change, but how does the Bay Area fit into that discussion? ABC7 News looks for answers to that question.

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo is traveling to Italy this weekend. He told ABC7 News, "When you have an opportunity to talk to colleagues representing big cities throughout the world, there's always a great opportunity for learning."

He's just a handful of U.S. mayors invited to speak at a Vatican-sponsored global symposium where he'll address topics ranging from social inclusion to urban inequality.

"They wanted to hear from the largest city in Silicon Valley about how we're utilizing more innovative approaches to tackle the challenges that many big cities face," Liccardo said.

Liccardo will be joined on the trip by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee as well as Gov. Jerry Brown, himself a former Jesuit seminarian. The governor was encouraged to hear about the pope's recent environmental encyclical, encouraging people of all faiths to fight global warming.

"A respect and reverence for the creative world is fundamental, but it's something that really has been missing in most of Christianity for the last 2,000 years. So yes, this is a big breakthrough on the part of the Pope of Rome," Brown said.

Over at Santa Clara University, the encyclical is a hot topic among students and staff. Professor John Farnsworth, Ph.D., is a senior lecturer in environmental studies. He told ABC7 News, "What are we leaving to the next generation? Whether you're Catholic or not, I think any caring person at some point needs to be thinking about that, and this provides a good tool to move that conversation forward."

It is also an opportunity for the Bay Area to share its best practices on the global stage.