Indian Bishops censures media for terming Pope a 'disaster'

Coming down heavily on media reports terming Pope Benedict XVI as a 'disaster', the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) said "these kinds of statements as most irresponsible and irreverent towards the person of His Holiness."

The response of the Indian Bishops came just days after Benedict XVI was criticised for his remarks about AIDS and condoms on his recent African trip.

In a press statement, Rev. Stanislaus Fernandes, Secretary General, CBCI said the Pope was the "most loved and respected spiritual leader of the Catholics all over the world. "

They pointed that "the views of His Holiness on various subjects such as recession, terrorism and moral issues like AIDS , abortion have been received with respect all over the world," adding the "Catholics throughout the universe abide by the teachings of the Church as pronounced by His Holiness who has often reminded the world to be more God-fearing while building a society based on humanitarian values and moral principles of life."

The Bishops, according to UCA News, was also opposed to an American magazine "Foreign Policy," which had ranked the Pope second among the world's top 13 "losers." The magazine also quoted British media saying that "one Vatican insider" had called Pope Benedict's pontificate a "disaster."

The Bishops council defended Pope as a person who has been "working for peace, reconciliation, universal brotherhood, unity and prosperity for the poor and most neglected, a just society based on the Gospel values and to make this world a better place for living for all humankind."

"Pope Benedict XVI is one of the leading intellectuals of the modern times, who is fully aware of the modern trends that forebode moral degradation for humankind in the course of time. It is the moral duty of His Holiness to direct and guide the consciences of people in general and of Catholics, in particular," the statement said.

Benedict provoked controversy when on his papal visit to Africa last week where he told reporters the use of condoms could aggravate the spread of AIDS in Africa.