World is at war, says pope

The world is at war, but it is not a war of religions, Pope Francis has said.

Francis spoke on the papal plane en route to Poland on his first visit to central and eastern Europe in the shadow of the slaying of a priest in France.

Asked about the killing, Francis replied: “It’s war, we don’t have to be afraid to say this.”

He said that when he speaks of war, he is speaking of “a war of interests, for money, resources, dominion of peoples”.

“I am not speaking of a war of religions. Religions don’t want war. The others want war,” Francis said.

Polish officials said they have deployed tens of thousands of security officials to cover the event.

Picture: AP. Pope Francis after arriving in Krakow, Poland.