World's top three Christian leaders in climate appeal ahead of U.N. summit

FILE PHOTO: Pope Francis arrives for the weekly general audience at the Vatican, August 25, 2021. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The world's three main Christian leaders issued an unprecedented joint appeal to members of their Churches to "listen to the cry of the earth" and back action to stem the effects of climate change.

In "A Joint Message for the Protection of Creation," Pope Francis, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew asked Christians to pray that world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in November make courageous choices.