Pope tells states to tackle wealth gaps

Pope Benedict has called on European leaders to spur economic growth by countering the wealth gaps between their countries with the same determination used to reduce the “spreads” among member state’s borrowing costs.

“If the differential index between financial rates represents a source of concern, the increasing differences between those few who grow ever richer and the many who grow hopelessly poorer, should be a cause for dismay,” he said in an address to diplomats at the Vatican yesterday.

“It is a question of refusing to be resigned to a ‘spread’ in social well-being, while at the same time fighting one in the financial sector.”