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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis is pushing ahead with his protect-the-environment priorities, presiding over a prayer service in St. Peter's Basilica Tuesday for the "care of Creation."
Francis listened to a homily by the papal preacher stressing how people must account for how they care for creation.
The pope took a cue from Orthodox Christians, who also mark Sept. 1 each year by stressing concern for the environment.
Francis prayed that those wielding power or wealth "take care of this world that we inhabit."
Earlier this year, the pope used an encyclical, a formal document of important church teaching, to lay out what he sees as an urgent need to safeguard the world's environment. He sees environmental concerns as a vital issue in which Christians and all people can cooperate.
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