Pope addresses U.N., calling for peace, environmental justice
UNITED NATIONS — A day after making history as the first pontiff to address Congress, Pope Francis on Friday morning issued a sweeping call to the United Nations for peace and environmental justice, as he placed blame for the exploitation of natural resources on “a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity.”
Standing before the General Assembly in his first speech here, Francis endorsed U.N. efforts to reach a global compact to fight poverty and climate change.
Francis became the fifth pope to visit the United Nations, and his appearance brought enormous security precautions and an electric atmosphere.
The senior U.N. police officer barked into his cell phone at the employee entrance as an army of police, Secret Service and other security officers patrolled the area.