The Vatican added that "hope was expressed for a renewed commitment on the part of the international community in settling ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East".

The front cover of today's edition of Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano featured an article on the economic crisis written by Mr Brown. In it, he wrote, "From Rio to Rome, and from London to Lagos we are confronted by one of the greatest economic challenges of our generation."

"As part of the G20, Gordon Brown must right the wrongs of institutionalised greed and create a new financial model which acts for the common good. At the G20 negotiating table, he has the opportunity to be the voice for those excluded from the talks – developing and emerging economies – and it is his moral responsibility to secure their financial futures as well as our own.