VATICAN CITY -- Pope Benedict XVI condemned Sunday the "heinous" bomb attack outside a Catholic church in the Philippines which killed five people and said resorting to violence never solved anything.

"While praying to God for the victims of this heinous act, I once again condemn the recourse to violence which is never a just way to resolve existing problems," he said during Angelus prayers at Saint Peter's in the Vatican.

"When will people learn that life is sacred and only belongs to God? When will they understand that we are all brothers?"

Pope Benedict expressed his "strong disapproval" at the attack and lamented that "human blood continues to flow due to violence, injustice and hatred."

Muslim rebels are suspected of being behind Sunday's bombing at the church in Cotobato City on the southern island of Mindanao. It occurred just as the congregation was leaving early morning mass.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed security forces "to get to the bottom of the blast, arrest those responsible as soon as possible," and ensure security in the city of about 200,000.