Pope Francis says the 'world is at war' following wave of Europe attacks

'The word that is being repeated often is insecurity, but the real word is war'

Pope Francis arrives for a welcoming ceremony at Wawel castle in Krakow, on 27 July 2016 (AFP)

A string of terror attacks in Europe – including the brutal murder of a French priest – is proof the “world is at war”, Pope Francis has said.

Speaking on Wednesday on a plane en route to Poland, the Pope clarified he was not talking about a war of religion, but “one of domination of peoples and economic interests”.

The Pope’s comments follow the murder of an elderly French Catholic priest by two jihadists on Tuesday.

Father Jacques Hamel, 86, who had served the local area for decades, had his throat slit during the attack in Normandy.

The killing is the latest in a wave of attacks in Europe in recent weeks. There have been at least three Islamist terror incidents in Germany in the past week and the events in Nice on 14 July where a lorry driver ploughed a car into the Bastille Day crowd killing 84 people.

“The word that is being repeated often is insecurity, but the real word is war," he said.

"Let's recognise it. The world is in a state of war in bits and pieces," he added, saying the attacks could be seen as another world war, specifically mentioning World War One and Two.

"Now there is this one [war]. It is perhaps not organic but it is organised and it is war," the Pope said. "We should not be afraid to speak this truth. The world is at war because it has lost peace.

"Not a war of religion. There is a war of interests. There is a war for money. There is a war for natural resources. There is a war for domination of peoples. This is the war.

"All religions want peace. Others want war. Do you understand?”

Pope Francis arrived in Poland for a five-day visit on Wednesday, which will include open air Masses and prayers and visits to the site of the former Nazi death camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau and to Poland's holiest shrine of Jasna Gora.

Speaking in the southern Polish city of Krakow, he urged Poland's leaders "to overcome fear" and show compassion to migrants.

Noting that many Poles have emigrated from their country, Francis spoke of the need to facilitate their return if any hope to repatriate, and understand the reasons that caused them to leave.

He added: "Also needed is a spirit of readiness to welcome those fleeing from wars and hunger, and solidarity with those deprived of their fundamental rights, including the right to profess one's faith in freedom and safety."

Additional reporting by agencies