Pope Francis hits out at brazen free circulation of arms

Rome: Pope Francis on Monday hit out at the `brazen` free circulation of arms around the world, comparing it unfavourably to the bureaucratic obstacles put in the way of humanitarian aid.

"It makes no difference where arms come from; they circulate with brazen and virtually absolute freedom in many parts of the world," the pontiff said on a visit to the World Food Programme.

His comments came a day after a gunman shot 50 people dead in an Orlando nightclub but the Catholic leader did not specifically refer to the shooting.