Relief agencies and rights groups in Africa have welcomed Pope Benedict XVI's reversal of the church's stance completely outlawing condom use, seeing his words as a breakthrough in fighting AIDS.
In a book published Tuesday, called "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times," the pope said that the Roman Catholic Church did not regard condoms "as a real or moral solution".
But he for the first time acknowledged that condoms may be used in certain instances "in the intention of reducing the risk of infection, a first step in a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality."
"This is a great step ... The church has agreed that the condom is a necessary tool in the fight against AIDS, but we are waiting for this evolution in its discourse to be put into effect," said Fogue Foguito, president of Positive-Generation, a Cameroonian non-governmental organisation (NGO) fighting against AIDS.
"The pope's ideas are going to help reduce the pandemic in the framework of prevention," declared Youssouf Bamba, an official with Repmasci, a network of media, arts and sports professionals tackling AIDS in Ivory Coast.
"We will be more at ease raising the issue in church. Until now, it was difficult for us to develop a combative strategy," he added, pointing out that 17.77 percent of Africa's population is Roman Catholic, according to Vatican figures.
Jane Mcochuodho, administrator of the NGO Women Fighting against AIDS in Kenya (WOFAK), said the pope's declaration "will help us in fighting the disease.
"But we cannot be certain about the consequences because even if the Pope said something in Rome, people in the countryside, people who do not read newspapers, will depend on certain people to convey the news, and we will need sensibilisation from the local media," Mcochuodho added.
According to UNAIDS, 80 percent of infected youths aged between 15 and 24, totalling some four million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa, but the rate of infection has decreased where condoms are used by youths with multiple partners.
"We can't draw up a single to fight or prevent AIDS without thinking of condoms. The condom is our main preventative weapon," said William Poaty of the National Council to Fight AIDS (CNLS) in the Republic of Congo.
Caroline Nenguke, head of media relations for the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) in South Africa, the country the hardest hit by AIDS, said that "Not many South Africans are Catholics, (but) even for the people who do not follow the pope, he is a world leader.
"I think it is a very important statement that he made, even though he needs to do more."
In Senegal, Madicke Diagne of the National Alliance Against AIDS (ANCS) welcomed the "good news ... that such a global religious authority can make such a declaration. I would describe it as a noteworthy step forward."
Some church leaders nevertheless warned against a misinterpretation of the pope's message and declared that it was not a sudden justification of the use of condoms, except in special circumstances.
"The pope's mind is not always easy to grasp, and I think some people have misunderstood his message," said Bishop John Katende of the church in Uganda.
"The Pope would never promote condom use. He only promotes morals and values."
"The Holy Father did not issue a formal statement to change his stance on the use of condoms. He was discussing something else. He only said it can used by prostitutes because of the associated risks," said Father Mathew Hassan Kukah, former secretary-general of the Nigerian Catholic Church.
"I believe the media is trying to feed fat on his views. As far as I know the position of the church remains that the use of condoms is banned."
SIC: AFP/INT'L
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