Pope Francis made a surprise video address to the TED Conference in Vancouver Tuesday, calling on the powerful to exhibit more solidarity, humility and tenderness toward others.

"I am thrilled to be participating in your conference," the Pope said in an English translation of his remarks, which had been recorded earlier in Italian in Vatican City.

He swiftly launched into an 18-minute talk about influential people declining to help those in need, and a "culture of waste" that puts products ahead of people.

While spoken generally, his words have a particular resonance inside the TED auditorium, where his audience of 1,800 people includes the CEOs of some of the largest technology companies in the world, and the cheapest ticket runs $8,500 US for the week.

The Pope had not been listed in the official program. Organizers had only teased that a surprise "world figure" would speak.

When the surprise was revealed, the audience erupted in applause — and responded throughout to his message of conscience and compassion.