Treat all men as brothers, urges the Pope

He said in the homily that peace begins by recognising in each other's faces that men are brothers and not rivals or enemies. He said people should be taught the value of respect for all from an early age.

He said children make it evident that men are brothers because "despite differences, they cry and laugh the same way, have the same needs, communicate spontaneously, play together".

The Pope said the painful images of children at the mercy of war and violence, their faces "disfigured by pain and desperation", are a silent appeal for peace. The Pope, also marking the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Peace, said: "Peace begins with a look of respect that recognises in another man's face a person, regardless of the colour of his skin, nationality, language or religion."

The value of respect for all should be taught from an early age, he said.