Absence of love, charity spawns selfishness, says Pope

Vatican City: Selfishness fills the "void" created by a lack of love and charity, Pope Francis said Wednesday during his general audience in St Peter`s Square.

"Where there is no love, there is a void that gets filled up with selfishness," Francis told some 46,000 pilgrims.

"But we cannot live together in peace if everyone is out for himself. That`s why love and charity are essential," he said.

People were often too greedy, showing indifference, bad temper, selfishness and a lack of solidarity towards others, Francis said.

"This doesn`t allow the Catholic Church to grow.

The unity of the Church means sharing suffering and joy with our brothers," the pontiff said.