Pope Francis has called for further action on climate change saying that it was “a critical moment of history”, on the first day of his visit to the US.<\/p>\n
Speaking to a crowd of more than 11,000 people on the White House South Lawn, the pontiff said the problem could “no longer be left to a future generation”.<\/p>\n
President Barack Obama said the Pope reminded people “that we have a sacred obligation to protect our planet”.<\/p>\n
The Pope will later conduct the first canonisation on US soil.<\/p>\n
Following the speech, the two leaders met behind closed doors in the Oval Office, before the Pope embarked on a parade around the White House grounds in a specially outfitted jeep known as the “Popemobile”.<\/p>\n
Crowds lined the streets, and a young girl and a baby were allowed to cross security barriers to be greeted and hugged.<\/p>\n
He then departed the White House for St Matthew’s Cathedral, a few blocks up the road, where he is delivering an address to US bishops.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, speaking in English – one of the few times the Argentine pontiff is expected to do so during the week’s many events – Pope Francis praised President Obama for recent proposals aimed at tackling air pollution.<\/p>\n
Time remains to make the changes required, the Pope said, in a speech that also called for protecting religious liberty and stamping out discrimination.<\/p>\n
Source: BBC<\/p>\n
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