Pope Francis' encyclical letter on the environment, Laudato Si, makes the case for "the intimate relationship between the poor and the fragility of the planet" and speaks of the pope's conviction that "everything in the world is connected."

"The human environment and the natural environment deteriorate together; we cannot adequately combat environmental degradation unless we attend to causes related to human and social degradation," Pope Francis says in the encyclical. At his White House speech on September 23, he built on this theme, speaking of our need to invest in our "common home". Failure to protect God's good creation for future generations is a sign of moral and social failure, according to Francis.

The Pope praised the U.N. as an instrument for protecting the environment, alleviating poverty and furthering peace and reconciliation. But he warned the UN against practicing a kind of cultural imperialism that fails to respect the autonomy of poorer countries, particularly in matters of sexuality and the family.

"A selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged," Pope Francis said.

View September 25,2 015 Time article
View September 23, 2015 World Resources Institute article
View September 23, 2015 The White House media release
View Conference of Parties 21 information page
View Encyclical Letter - Laudato Si of the Holy Father Francis - On Care For Our Common Home