"It will be recalled,” writes Cardinal Pengo, “that the Pope on a flight to Africa on his first apostolic visit to the continent in March this year in response to a question on the stand of the Catholic Church regarding the use of condoms , particularly in Africa, explicitly stated that condoms are not the answer to the AIDS epidemic in Africa. Condoms, he added, can even make the problem worse."

Cardinal Pengo continues:

This, of course did not go down well with certain people, and some sections of the media who for their own selfish ends will always look for an opportunity to attack the Pope or the Catholic Church. Since then there has been fierce debate between those who advocate for the use of condoms to help stop the spread of the epidemic and those who oppose it.

Pope Benedict’s position on condom use is not new. He was only reaffirming the Church’s position with regards to the use of condoms in the fight against AIDS. His predecessor, Pope John Paul II, often said that sexual abstinence, not condoms, was the best way to prevent the spread of the disease. It is also clear that the Catholic Church has always been at the forefront of the battle against AIDS and she is most probably the largest private provider of HIV care in the world.

As Pope Benedict said, you can't resolve the spread of HIV with the distribution of condoms, "On the contrary, it increases the problem."

This therefore calls for a responsible and moral attitude toward sex as the only sure way of succeeding in the fight against the disease. The Catholic Church advocates fidelity in marriage, chastity and abstinence from premarital sex as key weapons in the fight against AIDS.

Indeed, the only solution as the Pope pointed out is two-fold: the first is a humanisation of sexuality, a human, spiritual renewal which brings with it a new way of behaving among people and, secondly, a true friendship, especially for those who are suffering, a willingness to make personal sacrifices."

It is very clear that those who want to understand the meaning of the Pope’s message will, and those who do not want to, will never understand it.

And in spite of various media brouhahas on the condoms saga the Pope’s message continues to resonate with very many people in our beloved continent as elsewhere, who do appreciate the Pope's teaching and understand he is saying things that are important for today's world, no matter how unpleasant they may sound...

In conclusion, we wish to commend the Pope’s boldness to state the best way HIV/AIDS can be stopped. It is regrettable that his courageous statements have been misinterpreted as out of touch with modern day realities. But we members of the Family-of-God in Africa are appreciative of the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI. We are deeply grateful to him for his pastoral visit to our beloved continent as well as his messages to us and all the people of the continent. His visit has enkindled our hope in Christ and we are energized for more commitment to our Christian faith. We assure him of our solidarity and support...

May Mary Queen of Africa continue to intercede for the Pope in order for him to continue to be a good shepherd who is ready to lay down his life for his flock. May she also intercede for all his daughters and sons in Africa so that we can all live in peace and unity everywhere on the continent.

Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM)