Pope Francis has made history this week with a call for worldwide cooperation to avert dangerous global warming. It is the Catholic church's most powerful statement yet on the environment and climate change. A leaked draft of the encyclical -a special type of edict used to define key priorities for the church and its 1.3 billion adherents - calls for changes in lifestyle and energy use to avoid the "unprecedented destruction of the ecosystem". It warns that failure to act would have "grave consequences", It also calls for a new global political authority to reduce pollution and help poor countries and regions develop. His message could have particular impact in the US, home to 78 million Catholics and vital to international climate talks. Coming months will see coordinated sermons, homilies and media outreach by US bishops as part of a Vatican-led campaign setting the stage forthe pope's September visit. He's due to address Congress and the United Nations General Assembly.
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