This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6651809.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Pope condemns LatAm 'autocrats' | Pope condemns LatAm 'autocrats' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Pope Benedict XVI has criticised "authoritarian governments" in Latin America as he opened a major bishops' conference in the region. | Pope Benedict XVI has criticised "authoritarian governments" in Latin America as he opened a major bishops' conference in the region. |
| He also condemned the growing gap between rich and poor in the region. | He also condemned the growing gap between rich and poor in the region. |
| The conference will discuss ways to extend the Church's reach in Latin America, which has lost millions of faithful to evangelical churches. | The conference will discuss ways to extend the Church's reach in Latin America, which has lost millions of faithful to evangelical churches. |
| Earlier, the Pope led an open-air Mass for thousands of Catholics on the final day of his five-day visit to Brazil. | Earlier, the Pope led an open-air Mass for thousands of Catholics on the final day of his five-day visit to Brazil. |
| He has now left the country to fly back to Rome. | |
| "The demonstrations of enthusiasm and deep piety of this generous people will remain forever etched in my memory," he said, before boarding an Alitalia plane. | |
| 'Illusions of happiness' | 'Illusions of happiness' |
| In his opening address to the two-week bishops' conference, the Pope attacked unnamed governments in Latin America that he said were "wedded to old-fashioned ideologies which do not correspond to the Christian vision of man and society". | In his opening address to the two-week bishops' conference, the Pope attacked unnamed governments in Latin America that he said were "wedded to old-fashioned ideologies which do not correspond to the Christian vision of man and society". |
| He blamed both Marxism and capitalism for social problems in the region, and warned that the worsening gap between rich and poor was causing a loss of dignity through drugs, alcohol "and deceptive illusions of happiness". | He blamed both Marxism and capitalism for social problems in the region, and warned that the worsening gap between rich and poor was causing a loss of dignity through drugs, alcohol "and deceptive illusions of happiness". |
| The Church does not engage in proselytising. Instead, she grows by attraction Pope Benedict XVI href="/1/hi/world/americas/6652661.stm">Pope's Brazil tour: Diary | |
| "The people of Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to ... conditions that are human, free from the threat of hunger and from every form of violence," the Pope said. | "The people of Latin America and the Caribbean have the right to ... conditions that are human, free from the threat of hunger and from every form of violence," the Pope said. |
| Benedict urged the bishops to do more to confront the challenges facing the Catholic Church in the region. | Benedict urged the bishops to do more to confront the challenges facing the Catholic Church in the region. |
| The issue of attracting or keeping faithful, and the shortage of priests in the region, will be high on the agenda at the conference, which brings together 169 bishops from across Latin America. | The issue of attracting or keeping faithful, and the shortage of priests in the region, will be high on the agenda at the conference, which brings together 169 bishops from across Latin America. |
| Returning to a theme he had raised earlier in his Brazil visit, he also warned of the threat posed by legalised contraception and abortion. | Returning to a theme he had raised earlier in his Brazil visit, he also warned of the threat posed by legalised contraception and abortion. |
| 'Continent of hope' | 'Continent of hope' |
| Earlier on Sunday, an estimated 150,000 pilgrims greeted him as he arrived outside the basilica at Aparecida, south-west of Sao Paulo. | Earlier on Sunday, an estimated 150,000 pilgrims greeted him as he arrived outside the basilica at Aparecida, south-west of Sao Paulo. |
| He told them that the strength of the Roman Catholic faith had made Latin America a "continent of hope". | He told them that the strength of the Roman Catholic faith had made Latin America a "continent of hope". |
| The Pope made his way through crowds in his popemobile | The Pope made his way through crowds in his popemobile |
| Aparecida is home to Our Lady of Aparecida - a statue of a black Virgin Mary and the patron saint of Brazil. | Aparecida is home to Our Lady of Aparecida - a statue of a black Virgin Mary and the patron saint of Brazil. |
| Speaking outside the Basilica of Our Lady, one of the world's largest cathedrals, the Pope said the Catholic Church would grow by attracting new members, not by proselytising to reluctant audiences. | Speaking outside the Basilica of Our Lady, one of the world's largest cathedrals, the Pope said the Catholic Church would grow by attracting new members, not by proselytising to reluctant audiences. |
| "This is the faith that has made [Latin] America the 'continent of hope'", the Pope said. | "This is the faith that has made [Latin] America the 'continent of hope'", the Pope said. |
| "Not a political ideology, not a social movement, not an economic system." | "Not a political ideology, not a social movement, not an economic system." |
| Despite the Pope's optimistic message, reports said the size of the crowds was smaller than the 500,000 that organisers had expected. | Despite the Pope's optimistic message, reports said the size of the crowds was smaller than the 500,000 that organisers had expected. |
| The rise of evangelical churches and the Vatican's traditional conservative stance on social issues are among the key obstacles to reviving the attraction of the Catholic Church in Latin America, correspondents say. | The rise of evangelical churches and the Vatican's traditional conservative stance on social issues are among the key obstacles to reviving the attraction of the Catholic Church in Latin America, correspondents say. |
| On Friday, the Pope acknowledged that the Church was experiencing "difficult times" in Brazil, the world's most populous Catholic nation. | On Friday, the Pope acknowledged that the Church was experiencing "difficult times" in Brazil, the world's most populous Catholic nation. |
| In 2000, 74% of Brazilians were Catholics, compared to 89% in 1980. Many turned to evangelical Protestant faiths, which now make up 15% of the population. | In 2000, 74% of Brazilians were Catholics, compared to 89% in 1980. Many turned to evangelical Protestant faiths, which now make up 15% of the population. |
| Nearly a million people attended an open-air mass in Sao Paulo on Friday to see the Pope canonise Brazil's first native-born saint, Franciscan monk Friar Galvao, the highlight of his Brazilian visit. | Nearly a million people attended an open-air mass in Sao Paulo on Friday to see the Pope canonise Brazil's first native-born saint, Franciscan monk Friar Galvao, the highlight of his Brazilian visit. |