Pope offers prayers for families of millions who died of AIDS in 2007

Published: 2007-11-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI offered his prayers for the families of the estimated 2.1 million people who have died of AIDS this year, and he asked all people to work to end discrimination against those living with AIDS and HIV. At the end of his Nov. 28 general audience, the pope spoke about the Dec. 1 commemoration of World AIDS Day. "I am spiritually close to those who suffer because of this terrible disease and their families, especially those who have lost a relative," he said. "I assure all of them of my prayers," the pope said. "In addition, I want to exhort all people of good will to multiply their efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus, to oppose the scorn which often strikes those who are afflicted with it and to take care of the sick, especially when they are still youngsters," he said. According to figures released Nov. 20 by UNAIDS, "global HIV prevalence -- the percentage of people living with HIV -- has leveled off" and the number of new infections each year has fallen. UNAIDS estimated that in 2007 about 33.2 million people were living with HIV, 2.5 million became infected and 2.1 million died of AIDS.

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