Posted on 05/15/2005 2:55:20 PM PDT by freedom44
Rome - In a stern criticism of colonialism, Pope Benedict XVI said on Friday that along with Christianity, Europe had brought corruption and violence to the African continent.
The newly-elected pontiff said in a meeting with Rome's clergy: "We have to confess that Europe has exported not only faith in Christ, but also all sorts of vices, the sense of corruption, and violence that devastates" the continent.
The German-born pope, answering a question of an African priest posted in the diocese of Rome, said: "Our responsibility is that the export of faith be stronger than the export of vice."
The pope said: "We trade in weapons, we abuse the treasures of this land, and we, Christians, must make sure that along with faith there be found the strength to resist the vices and to create a happy Christian Africa, a great continent of new humanism."
The pope's statement was one of the few answers he gave to the numerous speeches made by priests in their first meeting with the pontiff, who was also bishop of Rome.
Benedict XVI was elected last month to succeed John Paul II, who died on April 2.
Bollocks, Benedict. Africa was full of humans easily led into temptation (like all other humans) long before white men came there in any signficant numbers.
Knowing a little bit about Nigeria, I can report this: upper class Nigerians pretty much never purchase shoes made in Nigeria.
They buy Italian shoes for the most part.
From what I understand before the Europeans came Africans regularly had each other over for dinner.
Good for him, it's about time someone shined a little light on the european interference in Africa.
....Let he who is without sin cast the first stone....
I believe he needs to clean his own house before he starts pointing his finger at others....
Europe exported Marxism and other crap philosophies that have held Africa back, and the Euro-trash Left recognizes and valorizes the Idi Amins of the continent. The Italian Socialist Party helped to install the Barre Somalian Gov't that led to the crisis and conflict in the early 90s. A good book on this subject is "Africa in Chaos" by George Ayittey.
Maybe he's becomming the John Bolton of the Catholic Church.
,,, the Vatican Bank had quite a hand in the BCCI affair. What does the Pope have to say about that?
He was probably talking about the french. I believe the corruption continues to this day.
"He was probably talking about the french. I believe the corruption continues to this day."
I would say mostly france. While the squealed about our war in Iraq they quietly invited Robert Mugabe to france in direct defiance of the european travel ban. Then we had french soldiers gunning down civilians in the Ivory coast.
Don't forget ELF execs getting 5 year jail terms for their 'corrupt practices' in Africa.
Belgium and Germany have a lot to answer for, for their colonial crimes in Africa.
Some of the African colonies were doing quite well until the world decided blacks should run their own country. Since then its been pretty much downhill. We have some cities here in the USA suffering from that same thought.DC and Atlanta come quickly to mind.
I can assure you such a silly statement is totally fallible.
Heh... except he's already been appointed. Teehee.
"In a stern criticism of colonialism, Pope Benedict XVI said on Friday that along with Christianity, Europe had brought corruption and violence to the African continent"
Geeze. Africa is crap hole, and it took European colonization and influence to lift it to this glorious stage of the continents history. Before the Europeans, Africa was even worse.
I've got an idea for Africa. Ban Animism and Islam, eliminate the tribal system found throughout the continent, introduce free market economic reforms in every African nation, eject the UN and all NGO's, refuse all "aid" from the West, ban slavery in places it is still found, criminalize all bizarre customs such as raping virgins and widows for good health and luck. Follow that advice and Africa will be well on its way to becoming a thriving, powerful and successful continent.
Longbow
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