No God of war

Pope Francis denounced those who wage war in the name of God yesterday, as he met faith leaders and conflict victims to discuss growing religious fanaticism and escalating violence around the world.

"The world is at war, the world is suffering," the Argentine pontiff said ahead of the meeting, which came as fighting resumed in Syria and US authorities investigated an attack possibly linked to the Islamic State group.

"There is no God of war," he said, calling on "all men and women of good will, of any religion, to pray for peace".

The annual World Day of Prayer event, established by John Paul II 30 years ago and held in the medieval town of Assisi in central Italy, aims to combat extremism dressed up as religion and the persecution of people for their faiths.

The pope also reminded Western countries that while they had suffered a string of deadly jihadist attacks, there were parts of the world where cities were being flattened by fighting, prisoners were being tortured and families were starving to death.

"We are frightened... by some terrorist acts," he said during morning mass at the Vatican, "(but) this is nothing compared to what is happening in those countries, in those lands where day and night bombs fall."

"As we pray today, it would be good if we all felt shame, shame that humans, our brothers and sisters, are capable of doing this."