In a message to mark World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, Pope Francis calls for urgent action to stop climate change and suggests that care for the environment should be added to traditional Christian works of mercy, Josephine McKenna reports for The Guardian.

In his message, Francis states, “Global warming continues, due in part to human activity: 2015 was the warmest year on record, and 2016 will likely be warmer still. This is leading to ever more severe droughts, floods, fires and extreme weather events. Climate change is also contributing to the heart-rending refugee crisis. The world’s poor, though least responsible for climate change, are most vulnerable and already suffering its impact.”

“When we mistreat nature, we also mistreat human beings,” the pontiff urges.

Read Pope Francis’s full message to mark World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation