Pope Francis has called for cuts in arms spending, adding that more money will be available for humanitarian purposes, DPA reported on Saturday.

Pope FrancisPhoto: Maria Grazia Picciarella / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia Images

“Our responsibility is to participate in the eradication of hatred and violence from the hearts of people,” the head of the Catholic Church wrote on his account on the platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday.

“Let us encourage disarmament, so that military spending can be reduced and we can take care of humanitarian needs, and the instruments of death become instruments of life,” the sovereign pontiff’s message also states.

Pope Francis did not highlight any context in which to place his message, but the UN is declaring August 19 as World Humanitarian Day, DPA notes