"The recent massacre in the Syrian town of Houla in which around one hundred people, including numerous children, lost their lives, is a motive of great sorrow and concern for the Holy Father and the entire Catholic community, as it is for the international community which has expressed unanimous condemnation of the incident," Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi SJ said in a statement on Tuesday.

The United Nations human rights office on Tuesday said 100 people Houla were mostly shot dead at close range, some of them women and children killed in their homes.

"The Holy See exhorts the parties involved and the international community to spare no efforts to resolve this crisis through dialogue and reconciliation," Lombardi said.

"Likewise, leaders of the various religions and believers, through prayer and mutual collaboration, are called to commit themselves to promoting the peace which is so much sought after, for the good of the whole population".

The UN estimates around 9,000 civilians have died since the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad's government began in March 2011.

Sources

• Adnkronos International
• VIS
• Image: Amnesty International