Pope to young people: We need you to protect environment

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Francis on Sunday praised young people for their efforts to protect the Earth's environment and told them to 'œbe the critical conscience of society.'ť

Francis celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, filled with hundreds of young faithful, to mark a church day focused on youth in dioceses worldwide.

'œYou have been entrusted with an exciting but also challenging task,'' the pontiff said, 'ťto stand tall while everything around us seems to be collapsing."

Francis expressed thanks 'œfor all those times when you cultivate the dream of fraternity, work to heal the wounds of God's creation, fight to ensure respect for the dignity of the vulnerable and spread the spirit of solidarity and sharing.'ť

He noted that many young people have criticized environmental contamination.

'œWe need this,'ť Francis said.

The pontiff said that in a world that 'œthinks only of present gain, that tends to stifle grand ideals, you have not lost the ability to dream.'ť

'œBe free and authentic, be the critical conscience of society," Francis exhorted young people.

Social justice and care of the environment have been key messages of his papacy.

The pope is expected to meet with young people from all over the world at the Catholic church's jamboree in Lisbon, Portugal, in August 2023.