Pope Francis is expected to tell the world's over one billion Catholics that it is their duty to take steps against climate change when he visits the typhoon-ravaged city of Tacloban in the Philippines in January.

The pope has called for a five day summit in May, which will zero in on "Sustainable Humanity, Sustainable Nature, Our Responsibility," and gather experts including scientists, economists, philosophers and astronomers to look into ways the Catholic Church could help combat climate change and promote environment-friendly practices.

Like Us on Facebook

The pontiff has called the destruction of forests a sin and cited the first book of the Bible, Genesis, when telling Christ's followers that they have a duty to care of the God-created world.

Pope Francis tells Catholics that Creation - the Earth - is a divine present, not private property that can be ruined at will. He says the destruction of the Earth is an insult to God and those who are bent on this destruction are committing the sin of self-idolatry.

He told the faithful to safeguard creation, because if creation is destroyed then it will destroy humanity.

A majority of scientists have sounded the alarm over climate change. They said the Earth is getting hotter due to rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Higher temperatures are changing weather patterns - such as harsher winters, which hit the Midwestern United States last year, disappearing polar ice caps, longer droughts, and more violent storms and typhoons.

Despite a denial by many U.S. politicians that climate change exists, the pope has made it a common theme of his papacy.

TagsPope Francis