Pope Francis called Sunday on the leaders of the world's top industrialized nations meeting in Northern Ireland to push for an immediate ceasefire in Syria.
On the eve of a two-day G8 summit, Francis wrote to British Prime Minister David Cameron calling on the powers to act fast to end a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
"I earnestly hope that the summit will help to obtain an immediate and lasting ceasefire and to bring all parties in the conflict to the negotiating table," he said.
"Peace demands a far-sighted renunciation of certain claims, in order to build together a more equitable and just peace," he said without elaborating.
Pope Francis also called for the G8 leaders to ensure that any measures adopted at the summit to tackle the financial crisis have a strong ethical line.
While Syria is set to dominate the agenda, Cameron has been promising developments on clamping down on tax evasion and easing bank secrecy.
"Urgent measures to resolve the global economic crisis must be guided by the ethics of truth," Francis said.
"This includes, first and foremost, respect for the truth of man, who is not simply an additional economic factor, or a disposable good, but is equipped with a nature and a dignity that cannot be reduced to simple economic calculus," he added.
On the eve of a two-day G8 summit, Francis wrote to British Prime Minister David Cameron calling on the powers to act fast to end a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.
"I earnestly hope that the summit will help to obtain an immediate and lasting ceasefire and to bring all parties in the conflict to the negotiating table," he said.
"Peace demands a far-sighted renunciation of certain claims, in order to build together a more equitable and just peace," he said without elaborating.
Pope Francis also called for the G8 leaders to ensure that any measures adopted at the summit to tackle the financial crisis have a strong ethical line.
While Syria is set to dominate the agenda, Cameron has been promising developments on clamping down on tax evasion and easing bank secrecy.
"Urgent measures to resolve the global economic crisis must be guided by the ethics of truth," Francis said.
"This includes, first and foremost, respect for the truth of man, who is not simply an additional economic factor, or a disposable good, but is equipped with a nature and a dignity that cannot be reduced to simple economic calculus," he added.
