Story highlights
- Francis, who is in New York as part of a weeklong visit to the United States, is the fifth pope to address the United Nations
- He argued for a series of "sacred rights," including labor, land and lodging
- Poor countries don't have a real presence at the U.N., and poor people don't have a voice in international aid projects, he said
(CNN)In a sweeping address to the United Nations on Friday, Pope Francis presented himself as a champion of the poor and dispossessed, urging world leaders to adopt concrete solutions to combat widespread poverty and environmental destruction.
Francis, who is in New York as part of a weeklong visit to the United States, is the fifth pope to address the United Nations, and his speech followed a familiar papal formula.
First, the Pope laid out his moral vision for a more just world, arguing for a series of "sacred rights," including labor, land and lodging.
Adopting the urgent tone of a disappointed prophet, he then listed the most pressing problems facing humanity -- from drug trafficking to the nuclear arms race and the rise of an "all-powerful elite" that hoards wealth and resources.
"In effect, a selfish and boundless thirst for power and material prosperity leads both to the misuse of available natural resources and to the exclusion of the weak and disadvantaged," Francis said.
Lastly, the Pope offered ideas for world leaders to consider.
Here's exactly what the Pope thinks is wrong with the world, followed by his suggestions for fixing them:
Powerful elites rule the world
Poor countries don't have a real presence in the United Nations, and poor people don't have a voice in international aid programs and projects, the Pope said.
"To enable these real men and women to escape from extreme poverty," he said, "we must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny."
Talk, talk, talk
World leaders seem not to realize that while they hedge, real people suffer, Francis said. When they finally do find a solution, it is often imposed without thought to local realities.
"In wars and conflicts, there are individual persons, our brothers and sisters, men and women, young and old, boys and girls who weep, suffer and die," he said, "human beings who are easily discarded when our only response is to draw up lists of problems, strategies and disagreements."
Using the United Nations for ill
Photos: Pope Francis in the United States
Photos: Pope Francis in the United States
Pope Francis waves from the top of the steps as he prepares to depart Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, September 27, on his way back to Rome. The Pope has been on a six-day visit to the United States, with stops in Washington, New York and Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis greets families at the conclusion of Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on September 27.
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A huge crowd gathers to celebrate Mass with Pope Francis on September 27 in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis celebrates Mass at the World Meeting of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia on September 27.
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Pope Francis waves to the crowd from the popemobile during a parade along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway before Mass on September 27 in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis waves to the audience as he leaves Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, after addressing bishops on September 27.
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Aretha Franklin performs as Pope Francis looks on during the Festival of Families on September 26 in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis takes the stage at the Festival of Families on September 26 in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis speaks in front of Independence Hall, from the lectern used by President Abraham Lincoln during the Gettysburg Address, on Saturday, September 26, in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis rides in the Popemobile along Independence Mall before delivering a speech outside Independence Hall on September 26.
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Residents in decorated apartment windows await the arrival of Pope Francis near Independence Mall on September 26.
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Pope Francis blesses Communion during a Mass at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Saturday, September 26, in Philadelphia.
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Pope Francis delivers Mass before a crowd of more than 2,000, consisting largely of priests, women religious and deacons on September 26.
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Members of the choir arrive at Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul prior to the arrival of Pope Francis on September 26.
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Pope Francis kisses and blesses Michael Keating, 10, of Elverson, Pennsylvania, after arriving in Philadelphia on September 26. Keating has cerebral palsy and is the son of Chuck Keating, director of the Bishop Shanahan High School band, which performed at Pope Francis' airport arrival.
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The faithful receive communion at the snack bar during Mass at Madison Square Garden on September 25.
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Pope Francis celebrates Mass at Madison Square Garden on Friday, September 25, in New York City.
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A crucifix hangs above members of the clergy during Mass at Madison Square Garden on September 25.
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Pope Francis rides through New York's Central Park on September 25. Francis addressed the U.N. General Assembly and will head to Philadelphia this weekend for the World Meeting of Families, a large Catholic event expected to draw nearly 1 million pilgrims.
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Pope Francis greets the crowd in New York's East Harlem Neighborhood on September 25.
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Pope Francis places a white rose at the 9/11 memorial in New York on September 25.
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Francis attends a multireligious service at the 9/11 memorial.
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The Pope arrives at the U.N. General Assembly to give his speech.
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Francis gives a thumbs-up after leading an evening prayer service Thursday, September 24, at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.
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Nuns celebrate at St. Patrick's Cathedral as they wait for the arrival of Pope Francis.
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Francis greets crowds as he arrives at St. Patrick's Cathedral.
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Crowds welcome Pope Francis to New York on September 24 after his arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
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A Pope Francis doll amuses the man himself at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
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Pope Francis stops to look at a sculpture of Spanish-born missionary Junipero Serra at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on September 24. The Pope canonized Serra during a Mass the day before.
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Members of Congress accompany Pope Francis on the Speaker's Balcony on Capitol Hill on September 24.
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Congressional staffers and guests strain to view and photograph the Pope at the Capitol.
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Francis blesses a child at the Capitol.
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Pope Francis addresses a joint meeting of the U.S. Congress on September 24. Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner sit behind him in the House chamber.
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Francis is the first Pope to address a joint meeting of Congress.
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Boehner welcomes Pope Francis before his speech to Congress.
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Pope Francis canonizes Serra during a Mass in Washington on Wednesday, September 23.
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The Pope celebrates Mass at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on September 23.
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Nuns wait for Pope Francis to arrive inside the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.
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Pope Francis greets crowds during his parade in Washington on September 23.
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Pope Francis reaches out to bless a child during the parade in Washington.
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President Barack Obama hosts the Pope in the Oval Office of the White House on September 23.
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Obama, the Pope and first lady Michelle Obama greet the crowd during an arrival ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House on September 23.
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Pope Francis addresses guests on the South Lawn of the White House.
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People wave U.S. and Vatican flags as they wait for the Pope's arrival at the White House on September 23.
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Early on September 23, people gather along Pope Francis' parade route in Washington.
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Pope Francis departs from Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland shortly after his flight landed on Tuesday, September 22.
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Pope Francis waves from his car at Andrews Air Force Base.
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Pope Francis is escorted by the Obamas and their daughters after arriving in the country.
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Clergy members brace for the wind as they stand on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base.
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The Pope waves at Obama and his family.
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While praising the U.N. as an important instrument for good, the Pope also noted that certain countries have been able to manipulate the international body to block urgent action.
Noting the conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Iraq, Libya and Sudan, Francis said some world leaders have used the U.N. not to solve problems, but "as a means of masking spurious intentions."
"These realities should serve as a grave summons to an examination of conscience on the part of those charged with the conduct of international affairs."
'United by fear and distrust'
Nuclear weapons are poor instruments of peace, the Pope said, frankly dismissing the idea that no one will use bombs if everybody has them.
"An ethics and a law based on the threat of mutual destruction -- and possibly the destruction of all mankind," he said, "are self-contradictory and an affront to the entire framework of the United Nations, which would end up as nations united by fear and distrust."
No checks, no balances
World leaders can draw up all the treaties and programs they want, the Pope said. But if there are no ways of enforcing decisions, they remain useless white papers.
"The number and complexity of the problems require that we possess technical instruments of verification," Francis said.
But even those "instruments" can become bureaucratic mazes in which real solutions recede into a hazy horizon, he said.
"We cannot permit ourselves to postpone 'certain agendas' for the future," the Pope said.
"The future demands of us critical and global decisions in the face of worldwide conflicts which increase the number of the excluded and those in need."
The Pope's solutions
Popes don't often offer concrete solutions global problems. But Francis is no ordinary pope. On Friday, he proposed three specific paths to a more "sustainable development of countries."
• An international justice league: In previous speeches, the Pope has lamented that poor countries are plundered for their natural resources, with no legal means to fight back.
On Friday, he proposed the creation of a "juridical system" for regulating claims and limiting power.
• Mother Earth has rights: This summer, Pope Francis traveled to Bolivia and Ecuador, two of the few countries that grant "rights of nature" -- protecting the air, trees and water.
On Friday, he backed the idea of "right of the environment," for two reasons.
1. Any harm to the Earth also harms humanity.
2. Every living creature has intrinsic value, beauty and is interdependent with other forms of life.
• Beyond the dotted lines: As Francis noted, the U.N. began its summit for sustainable development Friday, and in December, world leaders will gather for a summit on climate change.
The Pope's speech on Friday, as well as his eco-encyclical, aimed to influence those agreements, Francis has said.
"Solemn commitments, however, are not enough, even though they are a necessary step toward solutions," he said.
What the world needs, Francis argued, is a renewed sense of sacrifice for the common good and solidarity between the rich and poor, races and religions, the powerful and powerless.
