RNA - "I am saddened by the terrorist attacks in recent days in Somalia, Afghanistan and yesterday in New York," the pontiff said during his Angelus prayer in St Peter's Square on Wednesday.
He called on people to pray that God "converts the hearts of terrorists and frees the world of hatred and murderous madness, which abuses the name of God to disseminate death."
The pope further said that he was praying for the victims and their families.
At least eight people were killed and 11 others injured after a pickup truck plowed into a pedestrian and cycle path in Lower Manhattan, New York City, on Tuesday. The suspect, reportedly a 29-year-old Uzbek immigrant, was shot and injured by police.
Also on Tuesday, at least five people were killed after a bomber blew himself up in the diplomatic zone of Afghanistan’s capital, Kabul.
At least 27 people lost their lives on October 28 in a high-profile attack targeting the Somali capital, Mogadishu, which was claimed by al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab militants.
847/940