VATICAN - Pope Francis on Wednesday voiced his support for the Greek people and called for human dignity to be placed at the centre of talks on the country's future in the eurozone.

 

"The news from Greece regarding the economic and social situation of the country is worrying," Francis's spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said in a statement.

 

"The Holy Father wishes to convey his closeness to all the Greek people, with a special thought for the many families gravely beset by such a complex and keenly felt human and social crisis.

 

"The dignity of the human person must remain at the centre of any political and technical debate, as well as in the taking of responsible decisions. Pope Francis invites all the faithful to unite in prayer for the good of the beloved Greek people."

 

The pope's intervention came as last-ditch efforts to reach a deal continued between debt-wracked Greece and its creditors before a scheduled referendum on Sunday, which is shaping up as a plebiscite on whether the country retains the euro as its currency.  — Agence France-Presse