Pope Francis presided over mass in Saint Mark's Square in Venice today while warning of environmental damage and over-tourism, in a closely watched visit marking the ageing pontiff's first trip outside Rome since last year.
Fragile health has prevented the 87-year-old leader of the world's 1.3 billion Catholics from travelling in recent months. His last trip was a visit to the French city of Marseille in September.
But under sunny skies today, the Pope appeared in high spirits as he addressed more than 10,000 faithful seated in the vast Saint Mark's Square, following an earlier visit to a women's prison, and an address to young Venetians.
Citing the "enchanting beauty" of Venice, Francis listed the many dangers facing it - climate change, mass tourism and "frayed social relations, individualism and loneliness".
"Venice is one with the waters upon which it sits. Without the care and safeguarding of this natural environment, it might even cease to exist," said the Pope in his homily.
Francis's visit comes on the same weekend as Venice launches a new entry fee for day-trippers, aimed at easing the pressure of tourism on the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Francis cited "the difficulty of creating an environment that is fit for human beings through adequate tourism management" as one of Venice's main challenges, along with "climate change... the fragility of constructions, of cultural heritage, but also of people".
Tourists were prevented from accessing the square during the papal mass, which required a ticket to attend.
Earlier today, Francis arrived by helicopter to the island of Giudecca, which houses a women's prison.
Greeting one by one the approximately 80 inmates, as well as staff and volunteers, the pope encouraged the women to reconstruct their lives "brick upon brick, together, with determination" during their time behind bars, while calling on administrators to offer reintegration programmes.
"Prison is a harsh reality, and problems such as overcrowding, the lack of facilities and resources, and episodes of violence, give rise to a great deal of suffering there," he said, sitting in front of the prisoners.
"But it can also become a place of moral and material rebirth," he added.
Francis also addressed young people outside the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute, arriving to the landmark church at the opening of the Grand Canal by speed boat.
He encouraged them to become engaged in the world despite everyone being "on their own with their cell phone, glued to social media and video games".
"You must fearlessly go against the current: take life into your hands, get involved, turn off the TV and open the Gospel, leave the cell phone and encounter people!" he said.
Last year in December, a bout of bronchitis forced the Pope to cancel a trip to Dubai, where he was to have addressed UN climate talks.
He also pulled out of an Easter event at the last minute in March, after suffering from what the Vatican called a "light flu".
Francis, who uses a wheelchair, has suffered increasing health problems in recent years, from knee pain to surgery for a hernia and surgery on his colon.
