Video: Leonardo DiCaprio’s touching tribute to Jane Goodall

Leonardo DiCaprio's touching tribute to Jane GoodallCredit: Washington National Cathedral

Transcript

00:00It's a privilege to stand here today honoring a person of such immense magnitude,

00:08an extraordinary woman who changed not only the world, but so many of us in it.

00:15My good friend, Jane Goodall.

00:17When most of us think about environmental issues, we tend to dwell on destruction and loss.

00:24And I'll admit it's something I've always struggled with myself.

00:27But Jane led with hope. Always.

00:34She never lingered in despair. She focused on what could be done.

00:39She reminded us that change begins with compassion and that our humanity is our greatest tool.

00:47We got to cross paths in so many different places, at conferences, on panels, and in friends' homes.

00:55And every single time, we'd end up tucked away in a corner, talking late into the night about politics, biodiversity,

01:04and our shared hope that the next generation might do better than we have done.

01:10One of my favorite memories is from the first time I took a photo with Jane.

01:14I looked straight into the camera, but when I looked to my left, Jane was looking directly at me instead.

01:22She told me that that's the way she preferred to take her photos.

01:26Because for her, it was never about the image itself.

01:30It was about that shared connection.

01:32And that small moment said everything to me about who she was, an enlightened homo sapien.

01:41I'll forever cherish every conversation, every adventure I had with her, every laugh, every whiskey we shared,

01:51and every time I got to spend time talking with my dear friend.

01:55Thank you very much.