Pope expresses 'profound pain' at killing of priest in Syria

Pope Francis adjusts his skullcap as he leads the general audience in Saint Peter's square at the Vatican April 9, 2014. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis spoke on Wednesday of his deep grief over the assassination of a 75-year-old Dutch Jesuit priest in Syria and made a renewed appeal for an end to the violence.

Frans van der Lugt had been living in Syria since the 1970s and had become widely known for his refusal to leave Christians who remained in the rebel-held city of Homs as it was blockaded by government forces. He was beaten and shot dead by unidentified gunmen at his monastery on Monday.