The 266th pope became the fifth pontiff to visit the United Nations on Friday morning and called for reforms.

Pope Francis' speech comes as the U.N. celebrates its 70th anniversary, and he recognized the organization's advances in developing international law, humanitarian law, conflict resolutions and peacekeeping operations.

"All these achievements are lights which help to dispel the darkness of the disorder caused by unrestrained ambitions and collective forms of selfishness. Certainly, many grave problems remain to be resolved, yet it is clear that, without all those interventions on the international level, mankind would not have been able to survive the unchecked use of its own possibilities," said the pope of the Holy See, which is the U.N. recognizes as an "Observer Status" member state -- unable to vote to substantial matters.

The leader of the Holy See said reform and adaptation is necessary as the organization evolves through 70 years. He said there is a greater need for equity, especially through organizations or U.N. bodies such as the Security Council. With such help, Pope Francis said there will be eradications of abuse, especially among the developing countries.

Sustainable development was another topic the pontiff address. He said international financial agencies should have an initiative for the sustainable development of countries and ensure the countries are not effected by "oppressive lending systems."

"First, it must be stated that a true "right of the environment" does exist, for two reasons," said Pope Francis. "First, because we human beings are part of the environment. We live in communion with it, since the environment itself entails ethical limits which human activity must acknowledge and respect ... Any harm done to the environment, therefore, is harm done to humanity."

The pontiff said human rights and the environment are infringed if there is economic and social exclusion. He said the poorest suffer the most as a result of the aforementioned exclusions -- likely to be cast off by society, forcibly removed from where they live and abuse of the environment.

The pontiff said the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is "an important sign of hope," but "solemn commitments ... are not enough."

"To enable these real men and women to escape from extreme poverty, we must allow them to be dignified agents of their own destiny. Integral human development and the full exercise of human dignity cannot be imposed. They must be built up and allowed to unfold for each individual, for every family, in communion with others, and in a right relationship with all those areas in which human social life develops," said Pope Francis.

Government leaders, however, have a calling to do everything possible so all individuals have the "minimum spiritual and material means" to live in dignity and create and support a family.

Continuing on the environment, Pope Francis said there is an "ecological crisis" that can threaten the human existence. On war, he said it is "the negation of all rights and a dramatic assault on the environment."

"If we want true integral human development for all, we must work tirelessly to avoid war between nations and between peoples. To this end, there is a need to ensure the uncontested rule of law and tireless recourse to negotiation, mediation and arbitration, as proposed by the Charter of the United Nations, which constitutes truly a fundamental juridical norm," he added.

The pontiff acknowledged the violence in the Middle East and Northern Africa as well as Ukraine, located in Europe. The pontiff said the U.N. member states can strive if they set aside partisan and ideological interests and live "sincerely...to serve the common good."

Pope Francis - Holy See United Nations General Assembly Speech Transcript

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