Pope Benedict XVI on Monday spoke out against arms trafficking which he said foments violence that sometimes strikes against the Church.
The pope made his remarks during a ceremony at which he accepted the diplomatic credentials of Camerun's ambassador to the Holy See.
The international community, he observed needed to take action against arms trafficking ''especially in Africa'' in the interest of promoting peace.
''People involved in the sale or trafficking of weapons, often in the interest of lucrative gains, should question themselves in regard to the consequences of their actions,'' the pope said.
''I urge nations in the region (Africa) to do all they can to respond to the needs of security and peace, in order to quell the outbreaks of violence which innocent populations and the Church itself are, unfortunately, often victims,'' the pope added.
