Pope asks G8 to intervene for a ceasefire in Syria.

From Agência Brasil

Vatican City - Pope Francis today (16) called on the G8, the group of the world's eight largest economies, to strive for an "immediate ceasefire" in Syria and to address the economic problems of the poorest.

The Pope's appeal was sent in a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron on the eve of the meeting of representatives from the G8 countries – the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Canada and Russia – in Northern Ireland.

"I hope that the meeting will contribute to an immediate and sustainable ceasefire and that it will bring the conflicting parties to the negotiating table," the pontiff said in a letter released by the Vatican.

The Pope also appealed to each leader of these countries to renounce some demands and, together, build a "more just and equitable" peace.

In his letter to David Cameron, on the eve of the meeting to be held in Lough Erne, the Pope stressed that "the aim of economics and politics is to be at the service of mankind, beginning with the poorest and weakest, wherever they may be."

Francis emphasized that "man is not an economic factor or something we can get rid of, because he has a nature and a dignity independent of simple economic calculations."

He added that "any economic and political theory or action must strive to give every inhabitant of the earth a minimum of well-being that allows them to live with dignity, in freedom, with the possibility of having a family, educating children, praising God and developing their own human capacities."

In response to the Pope, Prime Minister David Cameron recalled that he promised Benedict XVI, during his visit to London in September 2010, that his country "would fulfill its promises, dedicating 0,7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to international development assistance" and that it would allocate funds to "those who need it most."

With information from Lusa Agency