One man, who said he had read "Laudato Si'," noted that the encyclical does not go into detail on what measures the Catholic Church will take to combat climate change. He asked why that was and if she knew of ways the Church is taking action.

"It's not meant for just a Catholic audience... I think the pope was writing for the whole world," said Woo.

However, she said, the Church is working to develop resources for more clergy members "to speak about this particular issue," and she noted that various diocese are trying to renovate their older buildings, although they are often working with limited budgets.

In response to another question, which asked how America can "break out of the passivity" it has towards climate change, Woo noted that people in the U.S. are somewhat insulated from the effects of climate change.

"I think in the U.S., if you don't want to know, you don't have to know" about the effects of climate change, she said.

"I think that's why it is incumbent on us, particularly as Catholics, to want to know... It starts with wanting to know," she said.

Speaking to The Pilot following the lecture, Woo said she hopes the students who attended "feel empowered to take action" to combat climate change.

"We require everyone to be involved, and to take the measures, and no one can give up. This is our world, this is your world, and I hope people feel informed, empowered, and inspired," she said.

Among those who joined the reception following the lecture was Bridget Meigs. Meigs, who is manager of The Farm at Stonehill, a campus-run farm that provides fresh produce to local food pantries, told The Pilot how working with the land can make people more aware of any changes to the environment.

"When you grow something, you have to aware of the rain, you have to be aware of the soil... Everyone has to have at least one plant at their house outside so they see what happens by it," she said.