Pope, Gordon Brown discuss current global crisis

(February 20, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Thursday discussed the global economic crisis and the need for ethical standards to replace a culture of greed where irresponsibility and excess are rewarded. A Vatican statement said the "cordial conversations dealt with the present global economic crisis and on the duty to pursue initiatives benefiting the less developed countries, and to foster cooperation on projects of human promotion, respect for the environment and sustainable development." After the meeting Brown told reporters he talked about the need for simple virtues being at the centre, not just of family life and our society and communities, but also at the centre of economic life. "The only successful economy in the future will be one that values hard work and effort and responsibility and enterprise but chooses not to reward irresponsible risk-taking and excess," he said. Brown said he invited the pope to visit the United Kingdom. The last papal visit to the United Kingdom was by late Pope John Paul in 1982.