Pope Benedict XVI has chosen "Combating poverty. Building peace" as the key theme for his Message for the 42nd World Day of Peace, due to be celebrated on 1 January 2009, the Vatican announced in a communique issued today.

Pope Benedict XVI, leader of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, says that in troubled times all people are "called to build relationships of solidarity and cooperation among themselves, as befits members of the one human family."

Pope Benedict XVI has called for increased efforts from international leaders toward nuclear disarmament.

His message, ahead of the 41st World Day of Peace (1 Jan 2008), was released yesterday.

The annual World Peace Day message is due to be celebrated by a record number of Catholic parishes in England and Wales this Sunday, 14 January 2007, reports Pax Christi, the international Catholic movement for peace.