Pope Benedict XVI has expressed the hope that world leaders will consider the ethical and moral dimension of every decision they make.
The pontiff made the comments to the new U.S. ambassador to the Vatican, Francis Rooney, who presented his credentials to the pope Saturday. Pope Benedict expressed confidence the United States will continue generous aid to poor countries facing crushing debt that he said fuels their poverty. He also stressed the importance of building a world that acknowledges freedom, integrity and self-determination.
In his comments, Ambassador Rooney said Washington is committed to providing food aid to the world's hungry. But he also raised the issue of the potential benefits of genetically modified crops, which he said could help people produce enough to feed themselves.
Many European consumers avoid such products, fearing their possible health risks.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.