Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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May 12, 2007

Pope Benedict Visits Brazilian Drug Treatment Center
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1771DF6:A6F02AD83191E160A3CD4DA01E072C089574F7DCC14957C0 Visit on eve of
conference of Catholic bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean
Pope Benedict is visiting a Catholic drug treatment center in the holy
Brazilian shrine city of Aparecida Saturday, on the eve of a
conference of Catholic bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Crowds gathered outdoors to see the pope speak against drug abuse at
the "Farm of Hope" treatment center, which was founded by a Franciscan
friar and says it has a recovery rate of more than 80 percent.

The pontiff flew by helicopter to Aparecida Friday, after meeting with
the nation's bishops in Sao Paulo. He urged them to spare no effort to
reverse the Church's declining numbers in Brazil and across Latin
America.

Brazil has the world's largest concentration of Roman Catholics, but
in recent years the church has lost ground to rival evangelical
faiths. A growing number of people have abandoned religion altogether.

The pope told the bishops to focus on helping the poor, who he says
need to feel the Church provides for their most urgent needs.



Earlier Friday during an open-air Mass, Pope Benedict urged Brazilians
to reject hedonism and sexual immorality.

He accused the media of ridiculing "the sanctity of marriage and
virginity before marriage."

The Mass celebrated the elevation of 18th century Franciscan monk
Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao as Brazil's first native-born saint.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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