Pope Francis vowed on Saturday to end the sexual exploitation of children by clergy during a highly-charged visit to once deeply Catholic Ireland and, according to victims, said the corruption and cover up of abuse amounted to human excrement.

Pope Francis condemned an alleged chemical weapons attack in Syria as an unjustifiable use of "instruments of extermination"

Pope Francis on Wednesday told members of the Mafia in Italy, where many go to church and worship openly, that they cannot call themselves Christians because they "carry death in their souls."

Pope Francis, visiting an area of Peru that was devastated last year by heavy rains linked to climate change and plagued by gang violence, urges people not to lose hope.

Pope Francis landed in Peru on Friday after a visit to Chile that has left many Catholics there confused and angry. At issue is the pontiff's answer to a question about a bishop accused in the country's child sex abuse scandal.

Vandals in Santiago attacked four churches before dawn on Friday, just three days ahead of the Pope Francis's visit to Chile, police said.

As South America awaits another visit by Pope Francis, a women's prison in Chile is preparing for a reception with the papacy.

Pope Francis baptized 33 infants in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday and told the mothers to feel free to breastfeed them if they cried or were hungry.

The head of the Catholic church lead followers in the feast of Epiphany which marks the end of the Christmas season.

In his year-end message, Pope Francis said that 2017 had been marred by war, lies and injustice, and he urged people to take responsibility for their actions.

Pope Francis conducts the traditional Christmas Eve midnight mass at St Peter's Basilica.

Pope Francis says he hopes "wisdom and prudence" will prevail on the Jerusalem issue, just hours before President Trump is expected to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.