Pope Francis Addresses United Nations, Admonishes 'Selfish' Countries

Pope Francis took the stage at the United Nations in New York City, New York on Friday to address world leaders, focusing his speech on the importance of environmental preservation.

In the Friday speech, Francis admonished "selfish" countries that use the world's depleting natural resources for their own economic advancement.

"Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity," the pope told the world leaders.

The pontiff linked his speech on the environment to the importance of helping the poor, arguing that "[the poor] are cast off by society, forced to live off what is discarded and suffer unjustly from the consequences of abuse of the environment."

"These phenomena are part of today's widespread and quietly growing 'culture of waste,'" the pope added.

"We cannot permit ourselves to postpone 'certain agendas' for the future. The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of world-wide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need," the pope added.

Francis' United Nations speech echoed sentiments similar to the speech he delivered at the White House upon arriving in New York City earlier this week, in which he called on Americans to recognize the "urgency" of climate change.

During the White House address, the pope said that the issue of climate change "can no longer be left to a future generation, " adding that the issue "demands on our part a serious and responsible recognition."

The pope is set to wrap-up the New York City leg of his U.S. visit this evening with a mass at Madison Square Garden. He will then travel to Phildelphia, Pennsylvania for his last stop in the U.S.