Pope encourages Mexican bishops to fight social sins

Published: 2005-09-15

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI encouraged Mexican bishops to fight corruption, organized crime and drug trafficking in their society, saying these "social sins" reflect the loss of a sense of God and the absence of moral principles. The pope also expressed concern for Mexican emigrants, most of whom end up in the United States. He said the church in host countries can help accompany and integrate migrants, making their experience a positive one. The pope made the remarks Sept. 15 to a group of Mexican bishops on their "ad limina" visits to the Vatican. Heads of dioceses are required to make such visits to the Vatican every five years, and several of the Mexican bishops in this group were from northern dioceses close to the U.S. border.

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