Pope Francis addresses the environment, poverty in sweeping U.N. speech

During a Friday morning address to the U.N. General Assembly in New York, Pope Francis once again invoked his message of compassion and interconnectedness. While reminding the 193 members of the U.N. General Assembly of the necessity of basic human rights and dignity, he also underscored the "right of the environment." Because we are a part of the environment, he said, "any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity."

"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," Francis added.

Pope Francis will also meet with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday before visiting the 9/11 Memorial, an East Harlem school, Central Park, and Madison Square Garden.

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