Pontiff opens summit on "sustainable development."
Pope Francis started his day in New York this morning with his now-familiar common theme.
The message the pontiff delivered at the United Nations asked leaders to use common sense to protect our common ground, earth, for the common good of mankind.
There couldn't have been a more appropriate way to kick off the UN's "Sustainable Development Summit," a four-day conference on climate change and its potential impact on the least of us brothers - the hungry and poor, the people living in earth's most environmentally fragile areas.
He also assailed the evils of the world in a wide-ranging speech that addressed issues from child slavery to prostitution to nuclear proliferation to drug trafficking, and the scourge of exploitation of "the excluded and those in need."
He called "lodging, labor and land" and "spiritual freedom and all civil rights" the pillars of human development," and called for "the need for greater economic equity" of the world's nations.
Speaking in his native Spanish in slow, deliberate tones, the pontiff talked for 50 minutes about a world that must search its soul to end selfishness and find harmony in nature and the common good for mankind.
"Our common goal must be built on the sacredness of nature and the use of creation for the common good," he said.
In a dense and theoretical speech, the pontiff cited "natural law" as a way to heighten mankind's higher aspirations.
"The true right of the environment does exist. We humans live as part of the environment in all its spheres," Pope Francis said. "The misuse of creation is recognized when we see nothing beyond ourselves. We must have absolute respect for life in in all its stages and dimensions."
The pontiff arrived slightly ahead of schedule and was greeted by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the main entrance. This is a place accustomed hosting presidents, prime ministers, king and queens, but the Vicar of Christ brought it to a new level of attention. Looking tired and limping slightly from the sciatica that troubles him, Pope Francis engaged the crowd gathered to greet him with the warm smile that has become a trademark.
As he was escorted through the UN halls, staff members and dignitaries crowded against the barriers, with their cellphones recording or snapping away for posterity.
Pope Francis nodded and reached to touch several outstretched hands, including those of the 193 children who were there as part of the opening ceremonies for the sustainable development conference.
After delivering brief remarks to the staff about the good work they do, he was taken to the General Assembly on an electric cart, a sort of mini-popemobile, past thousands of people who called his name and cheered as the children sang.
This pope, like Poland's John Paul II, is clearly a man of the people. Throughout his mission to Cuba and the United States he has called on leaders, and humanity in general, to be more ... humane.
Before the pontiff spoke before the General Assembly this morning he was introduced by Ki-Moon as a man "not with the wealthy, but with the poor. He is not with the famous, but with the forgotten. He has cried out for compassion for the world's migrants and refugees," Ki-moon said.
Pope Francis then stepped up to a standing ovation and immediately launched into his theme of greater economic parity.
"We should assure we are not using lending policies that are mechanisms that generate greater poverty, exclusion and dependence," he said. "The distribution of power lies within the very definition of law itself."
At St. Patrick' Cathedral last night Pope Franics reminded the clergy to maintain its "closeness to the poor, the refugee, the immigrant, the sick, the exploited, the elderly living alone, prisoners and all God's other poor."
In front of Congress he urged American leaders to let politics "truly be at the service of the human person" and not "be a slave to the economy and finance."
Amen to that.
Mark Di Ionno may be reached at mdiionno@starledger.com. Follow The Star-Ledger on Twitter @StarLedger and find us on Facebook.
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