ROME - Elections, like profit reports, have regular short-term rhythms, which is why Pope Francis' encyclical letter on the environment was so "appropriate and absolutely essential" for waking people up to the dangers of climate change, said California Gov. Jerry Brown.

TORONTO - California Governor Jerry Brown, in Toronto for the Climate Summit of the Americas, claims he is travelling with a copy of Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato Si’ and “going through it carefully.”