Pope Francis has criticised the naming of the US military’s biggest non-nuclear explosive as “Mother of All Bombs”, saying the word “mother” should not be used in reference to any deadly weapon.
The Pope said he was ashamed when he heard the name of the US most destructive non-nuclear bomb, reports said.
He made the statement while addressing a group of students on Saturday.
“A mother gives life and this one gives death, and we call this device a mother. What is happening?”
The US Air Force dropped one of the bombs, officially designated as the GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast on suspected Islamic State fighters in eastern Afghanistan in April.
The nickname was widely used in briefings and reporting on the attack.
Pope Francis is set to meet President Donald Trump on May 24 in a potentially awkward encounter given their opposing positions on immigration, refugees and climate change.
NAN