He said his flock should be spurred to renewed prayer for the Holy Father, for Cardinal Levada and his Congregation's staff, and for all their own clergy and people "as we move to ever closer communion in Christ with the Holy See."

Police said the pilgrims might have panicked after heavy rains caused large stones from a retaining wall along the trail to fall.

The pilgrims started fleeing down the slope, breaking an iron railing and trampling falling women and children under their feet, said Daljit Singh Manhas, a senior police officer.

"We have confirmation now that 145 people have been killed," he told Reuters. "We found eight to 10 stones which had fallen off and probably scared the people, causing the stampede." At least 40 children and 45 women were among the dead, police and health department officials said.

Thousands of worshippers had gathered at the temple in Bilaspur district, some 150 km (95 miles) north of the town of Chandigarh, to pray to the Hindu goddess Nainadevi during the annual festival.

Authorities said at last 48 other people were seriously injured and they were looking for more injured pilgrims in private clinics.

Witnesses said people had jumped over broken railings and bodies to save themselves. Children lost hold of their mothers' hands and were crushed under the feet of scared pilgrims.

Stampedes at temples are not uncommon in India, where thousands of people gather to pray during festivals. In 2005, about 265 pilgrims were killed in a stampede near a temple in the western state of Maharashtra.

Under the terms of the Lisbon treaty, the president of the European council would hold office for two-and-a-half years, replacing the current system where countries take turns at being president for six months.