Preaching to the converted: Swedish teen climate activist gets pope's blessing

Climate activist Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg meets Pope Francis during the weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg brought her campaign to the Vatican on Wednesday and met Pope Francis, who sees eye-to-eye with her on the dangers of climate change.

The Swede, 16, sat in the front row at the pope's general audience in St. Peter's Square and when he greeted her, she held up a small sign reading "Join the Climate Strike".

Pope Francis leaves after holding his weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

"Thank you for standing up for the climate and speaking the truth. It means a lot," she told him.

"God bless you, continue to work, continue. Go along, go ahead," he responded.

Thunberg, who has inspired a movement of children against global warming, chatted with the pope briefly through an interpreter.

Pope Francis gestures after holding his weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

She was preaching to the converted - Francis wrote a document in 2015 on protection of the environment from global warming.

In an encyclical, called "Laudato Si (Praise Be), On the Care of Our Common Home," he advocated a change of lifestyle in rich countries steeped in a "throwaway" consumer culture and an end to putting profit before the common good.

Since then, Francis has called for a reduction in the use of fossil fuels at every occasion.

Swedish "Fridays for Future" activist Greta Thunberg attends Pope Francis' weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

At a meeting with oil executives last year, Francis said the world must convert to clean fuel, telling them: "Civilization requires energy but energy use must not destroy civilization".

Thunberg shot to prominence last August, taking a place on the cobblestones in front of Stockholm's Parliament House with her "school strike for climate" sign.

Thousands of students around the world have since copied her and youth organizations have launched school strikes involving students in more than 40 countries. She is due to address Italian senators on Thursday and lead a student strike on Friday.

Swedish "Fridays for Future" activist Greta Thunberg attends Pope Francis' weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

On Tuesday in Strasbourg, she urged European leaders to act to save the planet in the way they are pledging to rebuild Notre-Dame after fire gutted the cathedral in Paris.

(Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Swedish "Fridays for Future" activist Greta Thunberg attends Pope Francis' weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Swedish "Fridays for Future" activist Greta Thunberg attends Pope Francis' weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Climate activist Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg meets Pope Francis during the weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

Climate activist Swedish teenager Greta Thunberg shakes hands with Pope Francis during the weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican in this still image taken from a video, April 17, 2019. Vatican Media/Handout via REUTERS

Swedish "Fridays for Future" activist Greta Thunberg is greeted by Pope Francis after his weekly audience at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Pope Francis greets a child as he arrives at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Pope Francis kisses a child as he arrives at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

Pope Francis greets faithful as he arrives at Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2019. REUTERS/Yara Nardi