Pope Urges G8 Leaders to Act on Crisis

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI has urged G-8 leaders meeting next week in central Italy to rewrite global financial rules and defend the world's poor from the effects of the economic downturn.

In a letter to Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who will chair the summit, Benedict appealed to leaders to "listen to the voice of Africa" and other developing areas.

He also called on them to "reform the international financial architecture" to ensure credit is made available for economic development and job creation.

The letter, published by the Vatican on Saturday, was signed last Wednesday.

Leaders from the Group of Eight industrialized nations and other countries will meet for three days starting Wednesday in L'Aquila.