Pope Francis on Wednesday denounced the use of violence in the struggle for indigenous rights in Chile, after a series of arson attacks on churches in the heartland of the country's largest indigenous group ahead of his visit.

"We have to insist that a culture of mutual esteem may not be based on acts of violence and destruction that end up taking human lives," the pope said at an open-air mass.

"You cannot assert yourself by destroying others, because this only leads to more violence and division. Violence begets violence, destruction increases fragmentation and separation."

source: AFP