On his return from the apostolic journey to Colombia – which took place from 6 to 11 September – Pope Francis, the highest authority in the Catholic Church, held a press conference of approximately 40 minutes with journalists on board the flight that brought him back to Rome. During the conversation, he was asked several questions. Among these were a couple devoted to current events that had occurred while he was in the Latin American country, such as Hurricane Irma's passage through the Caribbean and the American state of Florida and the violent flash flooding that struck Livorno, causing 7 deaths. Below are the Pope's words as transcribed by the Catholic-inspired daily newspaper Avvenire.

As we fly, we are passing close to Hurricane Irma, which after causing dozens of deaths in the Caribbean is now heading for Florida, with 6 million displaced people. After Hurricane Harvey, there were almost simultaneously three hurricanes over the area. Scientists believe that the warming of the oceans is making seasonal hurricanes more intense. Is there a moral responsibility on the part of political leaders who refuse to cooperate with other nations to control greenhouse gas emissions? Why do they deny that this change is also the work of human beings?
Those who deny this should go to the scientists and ask them. They speak very clearly; they are precise. The other day, when the news came out about that Russian ship that sailed from Norway to Japan, as far as Taipei, with the North Pole free of ice, a university released another piece of news that read: "We only have three years to turn back; otherwise the consequences will be terrible." I don't know whether it's true that we have three years left or not, but if we don't turn back… The effects of climate change can be seen, and scientists clearly indicate the path to follow. And all of us have a moral responsibility, great or small: to accept, to give opinions, to make decisions – and we must take them seriously. I believe it is a very serious matter. Each person has their own moral responsibility; politicians have theirs. Let them consult the scientists – they are very clear – and then make their decision, and history will judge them on the basis of those decisions.

Many times in your speeches in Colombia you called for the need to make peace with creation and to respect the environment in order to create a stable social peace. We are seeing the effects of climate change in Italy too; as you will know, there have been damages with many deaths in Italy as well…
After three and a half months of drought.

Why is there a delay in raising awareness, especially on the part of governments, which are instead prompt in other areas, for example in the field of armaments?
A phrase from the Old Testament comes to mind – I believe from the Psalms – which says that man is a fool, a stubborn creature who cannot see ["Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge; whoever hates correction is a fool," from the book of Proverbs, chapter 12, ed.]. The only animal in creation that steps into the same hole twice is man. The horse does not do so. There is pride, there is arrogance, and then there is the "pocket god." Many decisions – not only regarding creation – depend on money. Today in Cartagena, I began [the visit, ed.] in a poor part of the city; on the other side, the tourist area, luxury upon luxury with no moral restraint. But do those who go there not notice this? Do the sociopolitical analysts not notice? Man is a fool, the Bible said. When one does not want to see, one does not see; one looks only in one direction.