Pope: Abortion and gay marriage dangerous

THE Pope has labelled abortion and gay marriage two of the most “insidious and dangerous” threats facing the world today.

He made the comments to Catholic educators, social workers and others after celebrating Mass before an estimated 400,000 people in Fatima, Portugal, one of the most important shrines in Christianity.

His visit to Fatima was the spiritual centrepiece of his four-day visit to Portugal.

It was cast by Vatican officials as evidence that the Pope had turned a page in weathering the clerical sex abuse scandal that has dogged him for months.

The Fatima sanctuary’s huge esplanade was full to overflowing and organisers said the crowd was bigger than the that which joined the Pope’s predecessor, John Paul II, here in 2000.

The huge turnout was vibrant proof that the paedophilia scandal has not “weakened” the Pope’s position, the Vatican spokesman, Federico Lombardi, said.

Pope Benedict himself appeared buoyed by the crowd, telling them of the “great hope which burns in my own heart, and which here, in Fatima, can be palpably felt”.

The 83-year-old German pontiff has often cut a dour, professorial figure when compared to his media-savvy Polish predecessor, but five years into his papacy, he has proved a huge draw since his arrival in Portugal on Tuesday.

“I have come to Fatima to pray, in union with Mary and so many pilgrims, for our human family, afflicted as it is by various ills and sufferings,” he declared in his homily.

The Church has been engulfed in a series of unfolding sex abuse scandals amid allegations that the Vatican had willfully protected paedophile priests from prosecution in several countries.

A rock festival atmosphere unfolded ahead of the Pope’s arrival for Mass as flags flew, while pilgrims climbed on statues of saints to get a view.

Yesterday’s Mass was the high point of a four-day visit to Portugal and rain fell on thousands who spent the night on the esplanade in sleeping bags – and a lucky few under tents – to make sure they got a place.

“People need something that gives them hope, there are many problems in the world and it is not surprising that there are so many people here,” said Maria Caldeira, 66.

Earlier, the pontiff blessed and kissed two swaddled babies thrust at him through the open window of his Popemobile, before stoking the crowd’s enthusiasm by circling the esplanade on his way to the altar, smiling and waving to the massed ranks of flag and hat-waving pilgrims.

“What’s happened in the last few months, with the problems of the abuse scandal, could lead one to think that the attention and energy towards the Pope has been weakened, but that has not happened,” Lombardi said.

He said police figures estimated the turnout at around 500,000 people.