Pope Francis warns against turning Earth into vast pile of 'rubble, deserts and refuse'

Francis also denounces 'sterile hypocrisy' of those who turn a blind eye to the world's poor

Pope Francis urged governments on Friday to make good on their commitments to curb global warming, warning that climate change, continued unsustainable development and rampant consumption threatens to turn the Earth into a vast pile of "rubble, deserts and refuse".

Francis made the appeal at a Vatican conference marking the third anniversary of his landmark environmental encyclical "Praise Be." The document, meant to spur action at the 2015 Paris climate conference, called for a paradigm shift in humanity's relationship with Mother Nature.