Pope Leo XVI on Wednesday expressed dismay at the death and devastation being caused by war around the world and reiterated his appeal for peace.

"The heart of the Church is torn by the cries rising from the places of war, especially Ukraine, Iran, Israel and Gaza", - the pontiff said at the end of his weekly general audience.

“We must not become accustomed to war. Indeed we must reject the allure of powerful and sophisticated armaments as temptation. In the name of human dignity and international law, I repeat what Pope Francis used to say to those responsible: "war is always a defeat".

And Pius XII: `Nothing is lost with peace, everything can be lost with war`".