Pope Francis expressed diverse opinions on U.S. air strikes against Islamic militants in Iraq in an hour-long flight news conference on his way back from South Korea, reports said.

Pope Francis said that the use of force can be justified to stop the wrongdoings of the militants. However, he declined to endorse military air strikes because humanitarian intervention should not only be settled by a single nation.

Like Us on Facebook

Pope Francis explained where there is an unjust aggression it is authorized to stop it. Emphasizing the word stop, the pontiff made it clear that he does not mean to say bomb or make war.

The crisis was grave and the decisions should be made together by the international community or the United Nations, Pope Francis added.

According to some sources, the pope did not clearly give a green light for the U.S. military attacks against the militants, but apparently he did not rule them out.

During the press conference on Monday, Pope Francis also enunciated that his concerns towards Iraq citizens extend beyond Christian community.

There are many martyrs in Iraq, both men and women. Though not all of them were Christians, they are all equal in God's eyes, the pontiff said.

Aside from sharing his views on U.S airstrikes, some reports said the pope also disclosed that he considered traveling to the war zone if necessary to stop the violence. But because of the grave situation there, he decides not to go but Pope Francis said he is willing to do it.

Other than Iraq, he also wants to visit Philadelphia in 2015, and that includes a visit to the White House and Congress in Washington D.C. and the United Nations in New York, reports confirmed.

TagsPope Francis, U.S., Airstrikes, Iraq