Pope: Banks should support society's weakest

updated 1:09 p.m. ET Dec. 3, 2008

VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI is urging banks to help families experiencing financial problems.

Benedict says one of the primary objectives of banks is to support the weakest in society while also spurring productivity.

The pontiff was speaking at his weekly audience Wednesday attended by officials from the southern Italian credit bank Calabrian.

The pope and other Vatican officials have been speaking out frequently about the global financial meltdown. Benedict has said the crisis showed the futility of money and ambition.

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