Pope appeals for youth to save Earth, help poor

Pope Francis visited Assisi, the birthplace of his namesake saint, on Saturday to deliver an appeal aimed at young people in hope that they can help save the Earth and make the world's economy more attentive to the poor.

During his brief visit to the hill town in central Italy, Francis called for "courage" in abandoning fossil fuels. He said he was pinning much hope on the young because older generations didn't know how to protect the planet and to secure peace.

He addressed a gathering of some 1,000 young people, some of them young economists and others who are involved in efforts including start-ups, focused on helping the environment.