Pope Francis, leader of the Catholic Church, sets to address members of the United States Congress in a joint session on Thursday, Sept. 24, when he is expected speak of the environment and the importance of tackling issues of climate change.

In his recently released encyclical on the environment titled On Care for Our Common Home, the Pontiff called on the people to pay attention to the harmful effects of excessive and abusive use of natural resources that God provided.

Pope Francis added that people came to consider themselves as the masters and the lords of environment, entitling them to plunder the Earth's resources at their will.

Similar calls to protect the environment and to prevent global warming was made by heads of other religions including Muslim and Jewish leaders.

Jerry Kotas, an official from the climate change advocacy group Interfaith Power and Light and former Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists, said that Pope Francis brings new energy to discussions on environmental issues - particularly on climate change.

He said that the Pontiff calls things as they are: his call to discuss climate change issues, and to care for nature as moral issues.

Kotas pointed out that Pope Francis views technology as an important part of the solution to environmental problems, but he also said that change must start from within the hearts of the people.

Pope Francis' encyclical, in spite of various environmentalists' positive views, was also criticized by climate change skeptics who believe he should just focus on religious matters.

A large number of those opposed to Pope Francis' climate change advocacy are members of the U.S. Congress, who will be in attendance when the Pontiff delivers his historic address next week.

Observers believe that if Pope Francis is able to convince these politicians about the importance of moral responsibility over political and ideological goals, it can turn the tide on a long-standing debate on the matter.

There are also those who believe that the Pontiff, in spite all the moral authority bestowed upon him by his religious office, may also be ignored in his call to protect the environment.

Despite this, Kotas said that Pope Francis considers the United States, as a primary producer and consumer of the Earth's natural resources, to become a role model to other nations in protecting the environment.

Photo: Aleteia Image Department | Flickr