Pope Benedict the sixteenth has celebrated his first mass on African soil in front of 60,000 worshippers in Cameroon.

He said the service was devoted to the poor and the victims of violence. Earlier he also met with a delegation representing Cameroon’s Muslims. It was all a far cry from the controversy he sparked yesterday when he claimed the availabilty of condoms did nothing to stop the spread of HIV infection. He said chastity and fidelity in marriage were the best ways of preventing the disease. His words were roundly condemned by AIDS organisations who were angry his comments came during a visit to Africa – a continent where so many millions of have died from the disease The Pope did however re-iterate the Catholic Church’s anti-abortion stance. He told the mass life was precious and a gift from God.More about: Africa, Benedict XVI, Cameroon

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