CASTEL GANDOLFO, Sept 26: Pope John Paul II called on world leaders on Sunday to tackle poverty as a means of achieving peace, during prayers at his summer retreat outside Rome.

The 84-year-old pontiff appeared in difficulty articulating his words, but managed to read the entire text on his own. Referring to a 55-country UN conference in New York last week attended by heads of state and government, he said the Roman Catholic Church "offers all its support to eradicate the scourge of hunger and the other consequences of poverty."

"Pray that God will support the efforts of the international community for justice and development, because that is the way to guarantee the world a peaceful future," he added.

The frail pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease and other debilitating ailments, often struggles to finish his texts and is confined to a wheelchair.

He is due to return to the Vatican from Castel Gandolfo next week, when he will greet the presidents of Pakistan and Romania. Next Sunday he is to beatify emperor Charles of Austria, who died in 1922, and four other people. -AFP