VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis’ new encyclical has caught the world’s attention with Greenpeace and US President Barack Obama praising his focus on climate change as one of the principal challenges facing humanity today.

  Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, welcomes “the valuable intervention” of the pontiff, praising the encyclical, published Thursday, as encouraging the world to take a step closer “to that tipping point where we abandon fossil fuels and fully embrace clean renewable energy for all.”

  Pope Francis urged his followers to realise that their responsibility within creation, and their duty towards nature are very much part of their faith. Naidoo added that Greenpeace has always taken such a view, which is why the organisation aims “to stop Shell drilling for oil in the melting artic.”

  The organisation suggested that the Pope’s words should be taken on in local communities, and expressed their hope that churches worldwide will urge their congregations to help in the protection of the planet.

  Greenpeace reinforced the pontiff’s plea to politicians to change their behaviour towards the environment, saying that they need to “step up the pace”. The organisation reaffirmed the Pope’s statements on how politicians merely mask environmental problems, stating, “that dirty game must end now.” Greenpeace head of international climate politics, Martin Kaiser, added that the Pope’s words “should jolt heads of government out of their complacency.”

  With both Greenpeace's and the Pope’s words in mind, Obama has commented on the responsibility that the world has to protect “our children, and our children's children, from the damaging impacts of climate change” following the encyclical’s main question “what kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us?” He called for bold actions at home and abroad to be able to cut carbon pollution and to increase clean energy and energy efficiency. He added that he hopes to discuss the encyclical with Francis when he visits the White House in September.

  Mattarella also acknowledged that the aim of the encyclical was to reach out to “those who have political, economic and social responsibilities," and commented that the document was of high cultural and social interest.