Pope Francis: God Will Judge The Wealthy On Whether Or Not They Fed The Poor And Cared For The Earth

In a message directed to the world's wealthy and powerful citizens, Pope Francis cautioned during a Mass this week that God will judge them on whether or not they fed the needy and cared for the environment.

"We must do what we can so that everyone has something to eat," the pope urged.

Despite sufficient food on the planet to food the world, "it seems that there is a lack of willingness to share it with everyone," the Catholic leader said.

"But we must also remind the powerful of the Earth that God will call them to judgment one day. And there it will be revealed if they really tried to provide for him in every person, and if they did what they could to preserve the environment so that it could produce this food."

Previously, Pope Francis has also said that global warming is "mostly" manmade and that "it is man who has slapped nature in the face."

These remarks have been received with not a small amount of controversy — conservatives have bristled against the accusation of human culpability, while environmentalists have cheered the pope's leadership on these issues.