Pope Francis refused to equate Islam with violence on Sunday, saying Catholics could be just as deadly and warning Europe was pushing its young towards terrorism.

"I don't think it is right to equate Islam with violence," he told journalists during his return from a trip to Poland.

Pope Francis defended his decision not to name Islam when condemning the brutal jihadist murder of a Catholic priest in France in the latest of a string of recent attacks in Europe claimed by Islamic State (or Isil).