Pope Francis called on the U.S. Congress Thursday to take “courageous and responsible” action to combat the threat of global warming.
“We need a conversation that includes everyone,” he said, winning applause, and sustained clapping from members of Congress when he said, “we can make a difference.”
Republicans have been grumbling about the pope’s call for fighting global warming, and some Republicans have said the pontiff should be trying to steer clear of politics.
“I am convinced that we can make a difference and I have no doubt that the United States, and this Congress, have an important role to play,” Pope Francis said. “Now is the time for courageous actions and strategies, aimed at implementing a culture of care and an integrated approach to combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and at the same time protecting nature.”
“I call for a courageous and responsible effort to redirect our steps, and to avert the most serious effects of the environmental deterioration caused by human activity,” the pope said, citing passages from his encyclical on climate change issued earlier this year.
Outside on the National Mall, thousands rallied for the U.S. to take action on climate change in support of the president’s climate agenda.
