Pope urges G8 to boost development aid

VATICAN CITY, June 6 (Reuters) Pope Benedict today appealed to leaders of the world's richest nations to stick to their promises to boost aid to the planet's poorest countries, particularly those in Africa.

The Pope, who will meet US President George W Bush on Saturday, made the appeal at his weekly general audience as the Group of Eight began their meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany.

''I should like to make a further appeal to the leaders meeting at Heiligendamm, not to retreat from their promises to make a substantial increase in development aid in favour of the most needy populations, especially those of the African continent,'' he said.

The Pope said it was important that the world's rich nations do not lose sight of the so-called millennium goals.

The United Nations set eight Millennium Development Goals in 2000, which include halving extreme poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015.

Benedict said the leaders should pay special attention to ensuring all children complete a full course of primary schooling by 2015.

''This is an integral part of the attainment of all the other Millennium Goals: it is a guarantee of the consolidation of goals already reached; it is the starting point for autonomous and sustainable processes of development,'' he said.

The Pope also called for greater recognition of the role played by the Catholic Church and other religious organisations in providing educational opportunities in developing countries where ''state structures often fail to reach''.

''This reality should be recognised, valued and supported by governments and international organisations, among other things by the allocation of sufficient funding,'' he said.

REUTERS KN ND1822