Pope Francis returns from his trip to Portugal after attending World Youth Day. (Photo:vaticannews.va)

Rome, Aug 7 (RHC) The Italian press on Monday highlighted statements made by Pope Francis after his trip to Portugal from August 2 to 6, where he attended World Youth Day (WYD), which, he said, impressed him with the high level of participation.

This World Youth Day, the fourth after those held in Brazil, Poland and Panama, "was also the best prepared," said the Supreme Pontiff during his exchange with journalists on the plane that transported him last Sunday night from Lisbon to Rome, the Avvenire newspaper reported Monday on its website.

"I was impressed by the number of young people, more than a million and a half," said Francis, who said that they "try to look ahead", so "the problem is to know how to accompany them and not to detach themselves from their roots".

"That is why I insist that they dialogue with their grandparents, which is more important than with their parents, because from them they draw their roots," he added.

To a question regarding his position on child abuse the Bishop of Rome said that such action "is like eating a person" and added that "talking to abused people is a painful experience, but it does me good, it helps me to take charge of the matter. It is a serious phenomenon. Zero tolerance," adds the source.

In relation to the trip he will make at the end of September to the French city of Marseilles, to participate in the so-called Mediterranean Meetings, which will be held there on the 22nd and 23rd of that month, the Pope said that he will attend this forum because he is concerned about the issue of migrants.

Regarding the tragedy experienced by these people, many of whom die on their way to European countries, Francis said that "the Mediterranean is a cemetery, but the biggest cemetery is North Africa".

The Pontiff will visit the southern Gallic city just two weeks after his trip to Mongolia, to be held from August 31 to September 4, and the program communicated by the Vatican also includes a visit to the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde and the memorial dedicated to sailors and migrants who have disappeared at sea.

That appointment will be attended by mayors and bishops of the area, as well as French President Emmanuel Macron, and a contact of Pope Francis with the same is planned, according to a note released by the press office of the Holy See. (Source: PL)