Pope Francis says war is 'crime against humanity'

GENEVA

Pope Francis on Sunday called all forms of war a "crime against humanity," stressing that war is "not the way to resolve" conflicts.

"War itself is a crime against humanity. People need peace. The world needs peace," Francis said during his Sunday Angelus prayer, according to Vatican News.

"At the beginning of the year, we exchanged wishes for peace, but weapons have continued to kill and destroy," he lamented.

The pontiff urged "people who have power over these conflicts" to realize that war is "not the way to resolve them."

"We must educate for peace," Francis said. "It seems that we are not yet — all of humanity — with a sufficient education to stop every war. Let us always pray for this grace: to educate for peace."