Pope Francis made an urgent appeal for an end to Syria's devastating civil war and an unscripted condemnation of the arms industry on Saturday at the start of his first trip to the Holy Land as pontiff, according to The Associated Press.

Speaking in Jordan, Francis repeatedly stressed the need to overcome differences and press for lasting peace in the Middle East, the AP reported.

It was a message the Argentinian pope delivered first in a speech at a royal palace, then to an open air mass, and finally and most forcefully at a church near the River Jordan where he pleaded for a political solution to Syria's "lacerating" conflict and an end to the arms trade which he said fuels war, according to the AP.

"May the violence cease and may humanitarian law be respected, thus ensuring much needed assistance to those who are suffering," Pope Francis said, the AP reported. "May all parties abandon the attempt to resolve issues by the use of arms and return to negotiations."

More than 160,000 people have been killed in Syria's conflict and millions have fled to neighboring countries, including Jordan, according to the AP. Bombs, air strikes, gun battles and alleged chemical weapons attacks have killed 200 people daily in Syria, with government and rebel forces alike accused of atrocities.

Peace talks in Geneva collapsed three months ago and with no immediate prospect of their resumption, fighting continues between President Bashar al-Assad's forces and rebel fighters, both armed and reinforced by powerful international players, the AP reported.

"May God convert those who have projects of war. May he convert weapons manufacturers and traffickers so they become constructors of peace," the pope said, according to the AP.

Close to three million Syrians have fled to neighboring countries. While the refugees are from all faiths, Christians feel threatened by radical Sunni Muslims now leading the military insurgency against Assad, the AP reported.