Pope rallies bishops to press climate call before Paris meet

VATICAN CITY - The Vatican is seeking to reinforce Pope Francis' environmental message by encouraging bishops from around the world to sign an appeal to world leaders meeting in Paris next month for crucial climate change talks.

Cardinals, patriarchs and bishops, including representatives of regional bishops' conferences from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Oceania, are expected to sign the appeal yesterday.

Francis outlined his eco-message in a major teaching document in June, denouncing what he called the "structurally perverse" fossil fuel-based world economy that he says exploits the poor and destroys the Earth.

The encyclical was cheered by environmentalists and ignored or criticized by big business interests. In the US, it was met with particular unease and so far no US bishop is scheduled to participate in the conference to launch the appeal.