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By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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A Fox News host has attacked Pope Francis after the pontiff called out climate change deniers during a television interview.
Rachel Campos-Duffy, co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend, questioned why Pope Francis discussed climate change during an interview with CBS News when "churches are empty."
During the exclusive interview with CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell, his first with a U.S. TV network, Pope Francis hit out at "foolish" climate change deniers who don't believe the evidence for human-caused global warming.
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"There are people who are foolish and foolish even if you show them research, they don't believe it," he said. "Why? They don't understand the situation or because of their interest, but climate change exists."
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In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Campos-Duffy suggested there are more pressing issues that the leader of the Catholic Church should have discussed.
"Pope Francis used 1st US TV interview to talk climate change??!! I am in Italy now. The churches are empty (Mass attendance WAY down under his papacy) & I rarely see children in Italy," Campos-Duffy wrote. "Birth rate collapsing. Woke Francis has failed the Church."
The Vatican's press office has been contacted for comment via email.
Pope Francis has frequently spoken out about the dangers of climate change.
In an April 22 social media post to correspond with Earth Day, the official Pope Francis X account wrote: "Our generation has bequeathed many riches, but we have failed to protect the planet and we are not safeguarding peace. We are called to become artisans and caretakers of our common home, the Earth which is 'falling into ruin.'"
Elsewhere during his CBS News interview, Pope Francis called for worldwide peace amid ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza.
"Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace," the pope said via a translator.
Pope Francis added that Palestinians are suffering from "horrifying levels of hunger and suffering" amid Israel's war on the militant group Hamas, while noting children in Ukraine are also suffering amid Russia's invasion.
"Those kids don't know how to smile," the pope said. "I tell them something, but they forgot how to smile. And this is very hard when a child forgets to smile. That's really very serious. Very serious."
Pope Francis also had a message for those who say they cannot see a place in the Catholic Church for themselves anymore.
"I would say that there is always a place, always. If in this parish the priest doesn't seem welcoming, I understand, but go and look elsewhere, there is always a place," he said. "Do not run away from the Church. The Church is very big. It's more than a temple…you shouldn't run away from her."
An extended version of CBS News' interview with Pope Francis will be broadcast on 60 Minutes on Sunday, May 19, at 7 p.m. ET.
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