Pope Francis condemns Rome's 'moral decay'

Pope Francis has condemned the "moral decay" of the city of Rome, citing the child prostitutes that ply their trade and the busy soup kitchens of the Italian capital.

In a broadside against declining moral standards in the West, the Pontiff cited the darker sides of the streets of his adopted home as an example of modern society's failings.

Despite it being the home of the Vatican, Pope Francis said, "The Eternal City, which should be a beacon to the world, is a mirror of the moral decay of society."

In a wide-ranging interview with Rome daily Il Messaggero, he also lashed out at political corruption, joblessness and Europe's low birth rates. He claimed that many Europeans found many it easier to own pets than raise children.

"This," he said, "is another phenomenon of cultural decay, because affectionate relationships with animals are easier and more controllable. An animal is not free, while having a child is complicated."