ASSISI, Italy, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Pope Francis, speaking Friday in Assisi, Italy, called for "an end to armed conflicts, which cover the earth with blood."
The spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics made the comment during a ceremony marking the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi, the church's patron saint of animals and the environment who was born in the town in the late 12th century, Vatican Radio reported.