"You are those making the future today," Pope tells young climate activists

Thousands of young activists have converged on Milan this week for a Youth4Climate event, with some 400, from about 190 countries, due to engage with policymakers to hammer out proposals for possible solutions.

"It is said that you are the future, but in these matters, you are the present, you are those who are making the future today, in the present," Pope told participants in a video message.

Francis strongly supports the goals of the 2015 U.N. Paris accord to reduce global warming. He has repeatedly urged governments to take drastic measures to combat global warming and reduce the use of fossil fuels.

The Pope told youth campaigners that the care of common assets should be kept at the centre of the global policy debate and common ideas would help finding solutions to energy poverty.