KENYA: Pope Francis on Thursday said Christian and Muslim leaders have to engage in dialogue to prevent the "barbarous'' extremist attacks that have struck Kenya recently.

On a formal visit to Africa, the Pope made the comments at a meeting with leaders of different faiths in Nairobi, reported AP.

He also insisted that religion can never be used to justify violence.

"Inter-faith dialogue is not a luxury or an option, but simply essential," said the Pope.

Kenya, a former British colony, has a Christian majority, but Muslims represent about 10 per cent of the population.

"All too often, young people are being radicalised in the name of religion to sow discord and fear, and to tear at the very fabric of our societies," he stated.

The head of the Catholic Church was explicitly referring to the attacks carried out by Somalia-based Al-Shabab extremist group.

In April, the Al Qaida affiliate al-Shabab attacked a Christian college in north-eastern Kenya, which left more than 150 people dead. A month before that, Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for attacks in Mandera county on the Somali border, in which 12 people were killed.

In September 2013, at least 67 people were killed in an attack by al-Shabab on the Westgate mall in Nairobi.

This article originally appeared on Sroll.In and has been reproduced with permission