Pope implicitly criticises U.S. for leaving Paris climate accord

Pope Francis spreads incense at the altar as he celebrates a Mass during the 100th anniversary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, at the Saint Mary Major Basilica in Rome, Italy, October 12, 2017. REUTERS/Max Rossi

ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis implicitly criticised the United States on Monday for pulling out of the Paris agreement on climate change, praising it as a means to control the devastating effects of global warming.

The United States is the only country out of 195 signatories to have withdrawn from the accord, which aims to cut emissions blamed for the rise in temperatures.