Pope Francis Urges World Leaders to Do More to Overcome Climate Change: Cannot Be Delayed

Pope Francis. (Wikimedia Commons/Paris Orlando)

JAKARTA - The leader of the world Catholic Church Pope Francis said on Sunday the recent heatwaves in various parts of the world and flooding in countries such as South Korea showed that more urgent action was needed to tackle climate change.

"Please, I renew my call to world leaders to do something more concrete to limit pollution emissions," Pope Francis told the congregation present in St. Peter's Square, Vatican, reported by Reuters, July 23.

"This is an urgent challenge, it cannot be postponed, it concerns everyone. Let's protect our common home," the pope said.

Furthermore, Pope Francis has called on the world to quickly abandon fossil fuels, making environmental protection a cornerstone of his pontificate. He notes in his acclaimed 2015 encyclical “Laudato Si” (Praise be to You), the planet is “starting to look more and more like a huge pile of dung”.

On Sunday, the Pope expressed his solidarity with those suffering from the climate crisis and those who are providing aid.

It is known that parts of the southern United States have been roasted in a record-breaking heatwave. Meanwhile, extreme temperatures were also recorded in China and southern Europe, including Italy and Greece.

Meanwhile, wildfires that broke out on the Greek island of Rhodes forced thousands of tourists and island residents to take shelter in schools and indoor stadiums Sunday, after they were evacuated from villages and coastal resorts.