Pope Francis, 'crusader for environment,' calls for world without nuclear arms

Vatican City: Pope Francis is calling for a world without nuclear arms and for effective measures to combat climate change.

Addressing the faithful on Monday in St Peter's Square, he stressed what he called "the strong link between human rights and nuclear disarmament."

Francis said, “He is working to protect the dignity of the weakest and most disadvantaged which implies working with determination to build a world without nuclear arms also."

He urged people to put intelligence and technology at the "service of peace and true progress."

A strong crusader for the environment, Francis also expressed hope that people will realise the "need to adopt truly efficient decisions to fight climate change" while also combating poverty.

Francis then cited the suffering from a cyclone in India that has left fishermen missing and from flooding in Albania.