Pope: 'Helpless' civilians paying price of Syria conflict

Pope Francis has said it is "unacceptable" that civilian victims of Syria's civil war are paying the price for the "the lack of desire for peace by the powerful".

The pope, speaking on Sunday after the traditional Angelus prayer, said that "it's unacceptable that so many helpless - including many children - must pay the price of the conflict, the price of closed hearts and the lack of desire for peace by the powerful".