Cardinal George Pell has publicly criticised Pope Francis' decision to place climate change at the top of the Catholic Church's agenda.

Cardinal Pell, a well-known climate change skeptic, told the Financial Times the church had "no particular expertise in science".

George Pell has publicly criticism Pope Francis' decision to place climate change at the top of the Catholic Church's agenda. Credit:AP

"The church has got no mandate from the Lord to pronounce on scientific matters," he said,

"We believe in the autonomy of science."