ROME, Oct. 10—Pope Paul VI led delegates to the Synod of Bishops today in a day of prayer and fasting on behalf of the refugees of East Pakistan.

At his regular weekly blessing of pilgrims from his apartment over St. Peter's Square, the 74‐year old Pope expressed gratitude to “all the people who heard in our voice the wailing of such a poor people in extreme necessity.”

Last Sunday the Pope called upon people of all faiths around the world to join in special religious observances today to draw attention to the plight of those made homeless by the political unrest in East Pakistan.

Churches in Italy held special collections for the refugees, and many delegates to the international Synod gave sermons on the situation in churches in the Rome area.