Priest José María di Paola, who has the centre of threats from drug traffickers that sparked a major debate over the role of the church in slums in Buenos Aires City, today downplayed the situation of poverty in the City asserting that the situation in 2001 was "far worse" than now.Di Paola, however, urged the state to increase efforts to combat poverty.
Di Paola's statements came only two days after Pope Benedict XVI unveiled an open letter in which he denounced a situation of "scandalous poverty" in this country.
Di Paola, echoing the words of the Holy See, called for "more intervention" from the government to palliate the situation of the poor.
Poverty, according to private estimates, hits about one third of Argentines.
The government meanwhile claims the percentage of people who are unable to cover their basic needs stands at about 20 percent of the population.
"In 2001 - in the midst of Argentina's worst economic crisis in history - the situation was far worse, especially in shanty towns and in middle -class neighbourhoods," he told reporters during an interview aired on a local radio.
Di Paola became famous earlier this year, when he reported that he had received death threats from drug traffickers in shanty towns in the City, which sparked a debate over the role of the church as a provider of services in low-class neighbourhoods.
He is the head of the Vicary for Shanty Towns in Buenos Aires.
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