Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Pope opposes condom use to fight AIDS

Pope Benedict XVI said on Tuesday that condoms were not the answer to fighting AIDS, as he was about to arrive in Africa on his first visit as pontiff.

"The problem cannot be overcome with the distribution of condoms. This only aggravates the problem," Benedict told the media as he flew to the western African country of Cameroon.

Instead, the pontiff said sexual abstinence was the best way to fight the deadly disease.

The Vatican has faced strong criticism over its opposition to the use of condoms despite findings by the United Nations' World Health Organisation that "consistent and correct" condom use reduces the risk of HIV infection by 90 percent.

HIV/AIDS has killed more than 25 million people - mainly in sub-Saharan Africa - since it was discovered in the 1980's.

Over 22 million people currently live with the HIV virus in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Catholic Church opposes any kind of contraception because it claims it breaks the link between sex and procreation.

Speaking to reporters on his way to Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, the Pope said HIV/AIDS was "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which can even increase the problem".

President Paul Biya of Cameroon was expected to meet the pontiff on his arrival. Archbishop Simon-Victor Tonye Bakot of Yaounde, president of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon and Cardinal Christian Wiyghan Tumi, archbishop emeritus of Douala were also expected to greet Benedict.

Following a speech by the president, Benedict was to give his first address of his eleventh apostolic trip outside Italy before travelling by popemobile to Yaounde where he will spend the night.

On Wednesday the Pope will celebrate a private mass before paying a courtesy visit to the president and then meet the country's bishops.

According to figures released by the Vatican, the number of Catholics in Africa has been rising steadily in recent years.

Catholics made up 17 percent of the African population in 2006, compared with 12 percent in 1978.

Thousands of people are expected to attend open-air masses and other services during the pope's seven-day visit to Africa which will also include Angola.
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(Source: AKI)