Pope calls for "everything possible to be done to halt the spread of AIDS"

From today's Vatican bulletino:

INCREASE EFFORTS TO HALT THE SPREAD OF AIDS

At the end of today's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope launched an appeal for everything possible to be done to halt the spread of AIDS.

"December 1," he said, "marks World AIDS Day. I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers.

"Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children."

Beyond being true, it's also a smart move to preemptively mention this issue in advance of Saturday's "World AIDS day". Doing so pulls a bit of the rug out from under those who perennially criticize the Church for not endorsing the distribution of condoms to prevent the spread of HIV, as Reuters is wont to do (and thereby falsely claim that the Church doesn't care about those infected with HIV/AIDS):

AIDS activists have often sharply criticised the Church over its position on condoms.

In recent years, several top Church officials have called for a change in Vatican policy on condoms to allow their use by married couples where one partner is affected by HIV or AIDS.

But the Vatican has been loath to issue any document that could be interpreted as a green light for the use of condoms to stop the spread of AIDS, fearing it would endorse promiscuity.

Or, to put it another way, the Vatican is loath to issue any document that could be interpreted as a green light for continuing the prevalence of sexual promiscuity that exacerbates the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Note the difference.