Pope Francis condemns US gay club massacre, calls it senseless hatred

Pope Francis has condemned the killing of 50 people at a gay club in Orlando which happened early hours of this morning.

The attack "has caused in Pope Francis, and in all of us, the deepest feelings of horror and condemnation... before this new manifestation of homicidal folly and senseless hatred", said a statement from the Holy See.

"We all hope that ways may be found, as soon as possible, to effectively identify and contrast the causes of such terrible and absurd violence," the Holy See statement added.

The attack is said to be the worst mass shooting in US history.