NEW YORK, Sept. 25 (UPI) — Pope Francis will focus on climate change, poverty and the perils of “globalized indifference” Friday at what will be the largest gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.
At least 150 heads of state or government and 30 ministers of the General Assembly in New York are expected to be in attendance as the pope urges world leaders to focus on protecting the vulnerable, the excluded and the planet. Speaking in his native Spanish, the leader of the Roman Catholic church is also expected to condemn human trafficking and religious persecution around the world.
Francis, who after his election adopted the name of the patron saint of ecology, will speak about ravages on the environment, rejecting refugees and failing to protect people from mass atrocities, all transnational challenges that are not easily answered. The question remains if the world leaders will take heed.
“Governments and their leaders are not easily swayed by moral appeals, even from the pope, but they do respond to their public opinion,” said Louise Fréchette, a former deputy secretary general of the United Nations.
She added that the pope’s emphasis on issues like climate change and refugees may put pressure on governments to act.
The pope’s visit marks the opening of a U.N. development summit that will be followed by the annual debate next week bringing together rivals, some who rarely attend the General Assembly.
“I think he will make a passionate call for action, and he will lay down a big challenge for world leaders to come to an agreement,” Christopher Lamb, a Vatican watcher for Catholic weekly The Tablet, said. “In a way, he’ll be giving out advice on global leadership.”
Following his address to the UN, the pope is scheduled to take part in an inter-faith event at the 9/11 Memorial and World Trade Center complex, visit Harlem and Central Park and celebrate mass in Madison Square Garden.
He will attend the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia before flying back to Rome on Sunday.
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