Pope urges G-8 leaders to take measures to eradicate global poverty

Published: 2005-07-05

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- As leaders of some of the world's wealthiest nations got ready for the Group of Eight summit in Scotland, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to take "concrete measures" to eradicate global poverty. After praying the Angelus July 3, the pope appealed to summit participants to reduce the debt of poorer countries and to foster "authentic development" in Africa, a continent "often overlooked." The pope said he hoped the G-8 summit would enjoy full success by having nations agree to share, "in solidarity, the costs of debt reduction, to enact concrete measures for the eradication of poverty and promote authentic development in Africa." The previous day in Edinburgh, Scotland, Cardinal Keith O'Brien of St. Andrews and Edinburgh read a papal message to a crowd of 225,000. Signed by the Vatican's secretary of state, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the message greeted all those "united by their concern for the welfare of millions of our brothers and sisters afflicted by extreme poverty."

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