Pope calls on lawmakers to quickly reach consensus on fighting climate change

Pope Francis on Saturday called on lawmakers worldwide to overcome "the narrow confines" of partisan politics to quickly reach consensus on fighting climate change. The pope addressed parliamentarians who were in Rome for a preparatory meeting before the U.N's annual climate conference, which begins in Glasgow, Scotland, on October 31.

Francis referred to a joint appeal he and other religious leaders signed this week that calls for governments to commit to ambitious goals at the U.N. conference, which experts consider a critical opportunity to tackle the threat of global warming.

"To meet this challenge, everyone has a role to play,'' Francis told the visiting lawmakers from many countries. "That of political and government leaders is especially important, and indeed crucial."