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| Pope Mass draws big Angola crowds | Pope Mass draws big Angola crowds |
| (1 day later) | |
| Hundreds of thousands of Angolans gathered to hear Pope Benedict XVI celebrate an open-air Mass, a day after a deadly stampede at another event. | Hundreds of thousands of Angolans gathered to hear Pope Benedict XVI celebrate an open-air Mass, a day after a deadly stampede at another event. |
| Speaking to the biggest crowd of his week-long African visit, the Pope urged Africans to disperse the "clouds of evil" that had prompted years of war. | Speaking to the biggest crowd of his week-long African visit, the Pope urged Africans to disperse the "clouds of evil" that had prompted years of war. |
| The "destructive power of civil strife" had dominated for too long, he said. | The "destructive power of civil strife" had dominated for too long, he said. |
| The service near the capital, Luanda, was the last major event of the Pope's seven-day Africa tour. | The service near the capital, Luanda, was the last major event of the Pope's seven-day Africa tour. |
| Addressing the crowds, the pontiff expressed his "deep sorrow" at the deaths of two women, crushed as crowds tried to get into a stadium where he was appearing on Saturday. | Addressing the crowds, the pontiff expressed his "deep sorrow" at the deaths of two women, crushed as crowds tried to get into a stadium where he was appearing on Saturday. |
| He also wished a speedy recovery to others hurt in the stampede. | He also wished a speedy recovery to others hurt in the stampede. |
| Scorching day | Scorching day |
| Mass on Sunday was celebrated from atop a huge steel stage decorated with pink ribbons in a field which Vatican officials said could hold as many as two million people. | Mass on Sunday was celebrated from atop a huge steel stage decorated with pink ribbons in a field which Vatican officials said could hold as many as two million people. |
| When God's law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice Pope Benedict In pictures: Pope in Angola Heat and happiness at Angola Mass | When God's law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice Pope Benedict In pictures: Pope in Angola Heat and happiness at Angola Mass |
| Many of the women wore pink sarongs bearing the face of the Pope and Jesus, while others had Pope Benedict's image emblazoned on their T-shirts and baseball caps. | Many of the women wore pink sarongs bearing the face of the Pope and Jesus, while others had Pope Benedict's image emblazoned on their T-shirts and baseball caps. |
| The BBC's Louise Redvers in Luanda says security at Sunday's Mass was extremely tight, but people had still been pulled from the crowd and taken away on stretchers. | The BBC's Louise Redvers in Luanda says security at Sunday's Mass was extremely tight, but people had still been pulled from the crowd and taken away on stretchers. |
| On a scorching day, the field gave little shelter from the sun and several people apparently suffered from heat stroke. | On a scorching day, the field gave little shelter from the sun and several people apparently suffered from heat stroke. |
| 'Maelstrom of hatred' | 'Maelstrom of hatred' |
| The Pope was said to be "very upset" at the deaths of the two women and began Sunday's Mass by expressing his sadness. | The Pope was said to be "very upset" at the deaths of the two women and began Sunday's Mass by expressing his sadness. |
| The pontiff was greeted by cheering crowds in Luanda | The pontiff was greeted by cheering crowds in Luanda |
| "I express my solidarity to their families and friends and my deep sorrow because this happened while they were coming to see me." | "I express my solidarity to their families and friends and my deep sorrow because this happened while they were coming to see me." |
| The pontiff then addressed the crowds about Angola's recent history, particularly the years of civil conflict that followed independence from Portugal in 1975. | The pontiff then addressed the crowds about Angola's recent history, particularly the years of civil conflict that followed independence from Portugal in 1975. |
| He said the suffering of Angolans was shared by many across the continent. | He said the suffering of Angolans was shared by many across the continent. |
| "This experience is all too familiar to Africa as a whole - the destructive power of civil strife, the descent into a maelstrom of hatred and revenge, the squandering of the efforts of generations of good people," he said. | "This experience is all too familiar to Africa as a whole - the destructive power of civil strife, the descent into a maelstrom of hatred and revenge, the squandering of the efforts of generations of good people," he said. |
| "When God's word... is neglected, and when God's law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice." | "When God's word... is neglected, and when God's law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice." |
| Attack on corruption | Attack on corruption |
| Huge crowds have turned out at every opportunity to see Pope Benedict during his stay in Angola, where Catholics account for some 55% of the population. | Huge crowds have turned out at every opportunity to see Pope Benedict during his stay in Angola, where Catholics account for some 55% of the population. |
| On Saturday, the Pope urged Catholics in Angola to encourage people "living in fear of spirits" into the Church. | On Saturday, the Pope urged Catholics in Angola to encourage people "living in fear of spirits" into the Church. |
| He said Catholics should reach out to those who believed in witchcraft and spirits. | He said Catholics should reach out to those who believed in witchcraft and spirits. |
| Human rights groups say children in Angola have suffered abuse after being accused of possession by spirits. | Human rights groups say children in Angola have suffered abuse after being accused of possession by spirits. |
| Earlier on his trip, the Pope launched a powerful attack on corruption, which analysts say is rife in oil-rich Angola. | Earlier on his trip, the Pope launched a powerful attack on corruption, which analysts say is rife in oil-rich Angola. |
| The Pope arrived in Angola from Cameroon on Friday. | The Pope arrived in Angola from Cameroon on Friday. |