In his first-ever interview on American television, Pope Francis called out people who deny climate change exists.
“They are people who are foolish, and even more foolish if you show them the research and they don’t believe it,” he told CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell. “They don’t understand the situation or because of their interest, but climate change exists.”
Climate change is “off the charts” and a “defining challenge” for humanity, according to a report from the World Meteorological Organization. Within the last year, nearly a dozen climate records were broken, all while greenhouse gas levels, surface temperature and sea levels rose.
It’s easy to see why Pope Francis is concerned, especially as millions of people deny the impact of climate change. A study from the University of Michigan found that 15% of Americans still deny climate change exists.
But it’s not the only issue the pope is concerned about. He also spoke out against the ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine, particularly the impact it has on children. Recent reports have found that over one million children are facing starvation in war-torn regions.
“Those kids don’t know how to smile,” Pope Francis said. “This is very hard when a child forgets to smile.”
You can watch the full interview here:
