Pope Benedict XVI urged authorities in Rome and the Lazio region to overcome political differences in order to deal with the ''inevitable repercussions'' on the region from the global economic crisis.
Speaking to Lazio regional president Piero Marrazzo, Rome provincial president Nicola Zingaretti (both of the opposition Democratic Party) and right-wing Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno at a traditional New Year meeting, the pontiff said local institutions must ''overcome divisions'' to take up the ''grave challenge'' the crisis presented.
Benedict said the crisis was not only economic but also ''structural, cultural and moral'' and appealed to the local authorities to create a strategic response that would also have an effect in years to come.
The pontiff also asked the authorities to collaborate on what he described as an ''educative crisis'' among young people, which he said showed in ''episodes of youthful violence'' and reckless driving as well as drugs and alcohol consumption.
Alemanno described the pope's appeal as ''very important''.
''There is a need for a great communal effort, from both the majority and the opposition, to deal with social, economic and moral problems that are always on the rise,'' he said.
