In support of the pope

Pope Benedict XVI, who celebrates his 83rd birthday today, has received support from thousands of people, in the aftermath of his recent trip to Africa.

The pope was criticized for making a statement about the ineffectiveness of condom promotion in stemming the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, but four international pro-life organizations have gathered 45,000 signatures in his support.  

Kath.net based in Austria; Human Life International in Virginia; Human Life International in Europa (based in Poland); and Vida Humana Internacional in Miami, have joined forces to gather support for Pope Benedict.

In a recent news release, the organizations said they have gathered 45,000 signatures thus far in support of the pope.

“What the Holy Father said was absolutely true,” Joseph Meaney, Human Life International’s director of International Coordination, said in the news release. “It is an embarrassment to all who have so irresponsibly and often hatefully opposed him that what he said is verified by any honest examination of the evidence about what has worked historically to lower AIDS transmission rates in Africa.”

The campaigns of support will continue through May 1, at which point the letters and signatures will be presented to the Holy See.

For more information, go online to In Support of the Pope.

(AP Photo above: Pope Benedict XVI greets the faithful on Easter Monday at his summer residence of Castel Gandolfo in the hills south of Rome.)  

Carla Hinton

Religion Editor