Pope Francis tells wealthy Luxembourg to help developing countries

Pope Francis on Thursday called on leaders in Luxembourg — a small nation with a thriving economy and the highest density of millionaires per capita in the world — to devote resources to help improve conditions in developing countries.

The 87-year-old pontiff, in the landlocked state for a day visit, suggested that an increase in foreign aid could help stem the flow of refugees and migrants seeking to enter Europe.

"Let us not forget that having wealth includes responsibility," the pontiff told a gathering of political and civil leaders at Luxembourg's Cercle Cite, a neo-baroque palace.

"I ask for constant vigilance so that the most disadvantaged nations ... may be helped to rise from their impoverished conditions."

It is a rare European visit for Francis, who will also head to Belgium later in the day. He has tended to go to places never visited by a pope, or where Catholics are a small minority.

The pope, who has made care for migrants a priority of his 11-year papacy, said Luxembourg had set "an example in pointing the way forward in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees".

Nearly half of Luxembourg's 654,000-strong population are foreign nationals, primarily from neighbouring countries such as France, Belgium and Germany.

In an off-the-cuff comment, the pope referred to Luxembourg's low fertility rate and said: "Please, more children."

Referring to jokes he had made in the past about Western countries having more pets than kids, he promised he would not repeat them. But he said again: "More children."

Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden, in a speech welcoming Francis, said the Luxembourg constitution proclaims human dignity as a "fundamental right".

Luxembourg, a country with an area of 2,586sqkm, counts about 271,000 Catholics among its population, the Vatican says.

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