Pope urges pirates to treat victims with respect

Pope Benedict XVI called on pirates Sunday to treat their hostages "with respect and humanity", in his Sunday prayer from his Castel Gandolfo summer palace near Rome. The pope said he prayed for families of those held so that remain "strong in their faith and not lose hope of getting their loved ones back." After the prayer, the pontiff was due to meet with a delegation of relatives of piracy victims. The non-governmental organisation Ecoterra International said Somali pirates were holding at least 573 hostages, 34 merchant ships and 17 smaller vessels, demanding ransom for their return.