Pope urges Catholics to combat HIV/AIDS

Catholics need to rely on faith, in addition to science, to deal with the problems of the world, including HIV/AIDS, Pope Benedict XVI said on Sunday during an outdoor Mass in Munich, Germany, the Los Angeles Times reports.

"Social issues and the Gospel are inseparable. When we bring people only knowledge, ability, technical competence and tools, we bring them too little," the pope said (Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 9/11).

He added, "Hearts must be converted if progress is to be made on social issues and reconciliation is to begin, and if, for example, AIDS is to be combated by realistically facing its deeper issues."

The pope's message reiterated the Catholic Church's teaching that abstinence until marriage and fidelity -- not condoms -- are the best way to prevent the spread of HIV, AP/Yahoo! News reports.

According to Munich police spokesperson Peter Reichl, about 250,000 people attended the Mass (Simpson, AP/Yahoo! News, 9/10).

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