Pope calls on G8 to 'uproot' poverty in Africa
Pope Benedict XVI expressed hope today that leaders at the G-8 summit will take concrete action to help wipe out poverty in Africa and share the costs of reducing the continent’s foreign debt.
Speaking to tourists and pilgrims in St Peter’s Square in Rome, Benedict noted that the annual gathering of leaders of the Group of Eight leading industrialised nations begins on Wednesday in Gleneagles, Scotland.
“I wish with all my heart for the success of this important meeting, hoping that it will lead to a sharing of the costs of reducing debt, to putting into motion concrete measures for uprooting poverty, and to promoting the … development of Africa,” Benedict said.
Benedict’s predecessor, John Paul II, made repeated calls about the need for wealthy nations to help poor countries deal with their burden of debt.
