Pope blames speculation for food crisis

VATICAN CITY, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI, in a message from the Vatican, attacked financial speculation aimed at short-term gain Thursday, blaming it for poverty and hunger.

The pope suggested that speculators have driven up the price of food, creating a global crisis, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

''Finance focused on short and very-short term profit is a threat to all, even for those who are able to reap benefits during periods of financial euphoria,'' he said.

The message is for World Peace Day, Jan. 1. Benedict called for a cut in spending on weapons and said international cooperation involves "courageous choices" by those involved.

The pursuit of wealth could create a situation in which the rich "live in an ivory tower surrounded by a desert of poverty and degradation,'' Benedict said.

The title of the pope's message is "Combating Poverty, Building Peace."