People tend to overlook the fact that the words of someone with this level of influence are vitally important and can have enormous effects on the world.

Whether you in particular care about a famous/rich person's comments or not, there are millions that do--and that is important. Important enough that even without respecting that person, we should always take what they say and do very seriously.

It’s fine you don’t care, but there’s something like 1.4 billion Catholics that probably do.

News about what the head of the Catholic church does is as important as news about what the head of USA, China or Russia does. It's hugely influencial even when it comes to lives of non-catholics, non-americans, non-chinese... because of the massive number of people that belong to the religion or state and the power that religion or state has. It's a good thing the pope talks against fossil fuel companies, because his influence is big.

Many times the victims of priest sexual abuse have approached the Vatican for a meeting and blessing from the pope. Every time the pope has turned them away and refused to even acknowledge their existence, or their plight. His lawyers tell him it's not a good idea. And of course the representative of god, flanked by lawyers and bankers, listens to his lawyers over god.

Can't upset the oil companies, where do you think that lube they use for altar boys comes from? A cloud in the sky?