An opinion piece by United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon for CNN. 

(CNN) I am honored to host His Holiness Pope Francis for a historic visit to the United Nations on the day that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development will be adopted by some 150 world leaders. His has been a leading voice for urgent action to reduce poverty, enhance human dignity and protect the planet, our common home.

Building on the remarkable gains made over the past 15 years under the framework of the Millennium Development Goals, the new agenda — including a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — will guide us in finishing the job while working more deeply and broadly toward a future of dignity for all.

The new agenda is comprehensive, reflecting the complexity of today’s world. It is integrated, taking into account the links among the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. With its connections to justice, institutions and inclusiveness, the agenda can help the world peacefully navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing world on a planet with limited resources. Pope Francis has called on people everywhere to work toward realizing the SDGs “with generosity and courage.”