Pope Francis has called for greater diplomatic efforts to disarm those fuelling violent conflicts in the world and to end human and drugs trafficking which often fund the "evil" arms trade.
"Those suffering the tragedy of violence and forced migration...lack the strength or ability to cry out," Francis said on Thursday.
"The path of diplomacy helps us to both amplify and convey this cry by seeking solutions to the many underlying causes of the conflicts of our day."
"This applies especially in our efforts to remove weapons from those perpetrating violence, and to end the scourge of human trafficking and the drug trade which often support this evil," the pontiff continued.
He made the remarks during an audience at the Vatican with the new ambassadors to the Holy See from the Seychelles, Thailand, Estonia, Malawi and Zambia.
