Angela Merkel says Pope Francis urged her to fight for Paris climate deal

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Pope Francis encouraged her to work to preserve the Paris climate accord despite the US withdrawal during a meeting at the Vatican.

Speaking after a 40-minute meeting in the Apostolic Palace, which focused on the G20 summit that Germany is hosting in Hamburg on July 7-8, she said the Pope also shared her aim to "bring down walls" and not build them.