Pope Benedict XVI spoke of the "human tragedies" caused by World War II, the day after European leaders marked the anniversary of the start of the conflict.

"We commemorated the 70th anniversary of the start of World War II," Pope Benedict told pilgrims from Poland, where the conflict started.

"Its human tragedies and the absurdity of the war remain in people's memories."

"Let us ask God for the spirit of forgiveness, peace and reconciliation to spread through the hearts of men," the head of the Roman Catholic Church added.

The German pope has stirred controversy in the past by attributing responsibility for Nazi crimes to "a group of criminals" who had used the German people "as a tool in their thirst for destruction and power".

During a trip to the Holy Land in May, the Vatican denied that the Pope had joined the Hitler Youth.

He has said he was enrolled against his will after membership became compulsory in 1941.

European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin remembered war victims on Tuesday at a ceremony in the Polish port of Gdansk, Poland.

The port was the site of the first battle on September 1, 1939, when a German ship opened fire on a Polish base.

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