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Pope condemns LatAm 'autocrats' Pope condemns LatAm 'autocrats'
(about 6 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, in a speech at the end of his five-day tour of Brazil.
He also condemned the growing gap between rich and poor in the region. He condemned the growing gap between rich and poor, blaming both Marxism and capitalism for the region's problems.
The conference will discuss ways to extend the Church's reach in Latin America, which has lost millions of faithful to evangelical churches. The speech opened a conference to discuss ways to counter evangelical Protestants in Latin America, who have won over millions of former Catholics.
Earlier, the Pope led an open-air Mass for thousands of Catholics on the final day of his five-day visit to Brazil. The Pope has now left the country to fly back to Rome.
He has now left the country to fly back to Rome. This ideological promise has been shown to be false Pope Benedict XVI class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6652661.stm">Pope's Brazil tour: Diary "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.
"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. The BBC's David Willey, who has been travelling with the Pope, says he managed to project an image of both sternness and gentleness during his trip.
A leading Sao Paulo newspaper said the image of a cold conservative had been replaced by that of a smiling pope who speaks the language of the poor, who kisses the faithful and embraces multitudes.
But although about 200,000 people attended Pope Benedict's final Mass near Sao Paulo, it was less than half the number predicted by Church officials.
Analysts say the low turnout reflects the waning influence of the Church and the weaker star appeal of this Pope, compared to his predecessor, Pope John Paul II.
'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 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6652661.stm">Pope's Brazil tour: Diary "Capitalism and Marxism promised to find the right path towards the creation of just institutions and they claimed that those, once established, would function on their own," he 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. "They also claimed that not only would there be no need for an individual moral conscience, but that they would provide a common morality. This ideological promise has been shown to be false."
The Pope did not name any countries in his criticism of capitalism andMarxism, but the region has seen a sharp move to the left in recent years - with the election of leftist leaders in Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua and the re-election of President Hugo Chavez in Venezuela.
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.
'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.
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
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.
"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."
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.
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.