Pope calls for solidarity in world’s finances, says ethics must guide all action

Pope calls for ethics in world economy

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict XVI has called for ethics and solidarity in the world’s financial system, rebuking governments he said failed to act properly in the face of speculation that hurts poorer nations.

Benedict did not mention specific countries in his comments Saturday.

But he said that an “ethical interaction of conscience and intelligence” appears to be “too weak in those rulers who, faced with renewed episodes of irresponsible speculation toward weaker countries, fail to react with adequate decisions on financial governance.”

The pontiff said politics should always be predominant over finance and ethics must guide all action. He said globalization must be guided by the search for common good, which he said must be the goal of progress.