Benedict XVI's speech to Rome officials provokes war of words

FROM JOHN THAVIS IN ROME
IN A REBUKE to Rome government officials Pope Benedict XVI has criticised what he called "very serious degradation" in areas of the city and the surrounding region.
The Pope urged the officials to resolve emergencies in education, housing, poverty, unemployment and public safety. He also said that there should be greater support for the traditional family "founded on marriagean implicit criticism of efforts in Rome to grant legal recognition and benefits to cohabiting couples.
The talk ignited a storm of political controversy and the next day the Vatican issued a statement expressing amazement at the reaction. It said it was not the Pope's intention to ignore the "appreciable commitment" of the city and the region to deal with the problems.
The Pope made his remarks in a meeting with administrators led by Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni; the president of the province of Rome, Enrico Gasbarra; and the president of the region of Lazio. Pietro Marrazzo. All three are members of centre-Left political parties. The annual papal audience is usually a pleasant exchange of greetings and perspectives but this time the Pope hit out at social ills.
One big problem, he said, was increasing poverty, something the Church and its agencies work tirelessly to alleviate. "The increase in the cost of living, especially in housing prices, the persistent pockets of unemployment, and the inadequate salaries and pensions are making life truly difficult for many individuals and families,he said.
Referring to the murder of a Roman woman, allegedly by a Romanian immigrant. the Pope said city officials urgently need to find a way to increase security. But they also need to provide to immigrants the basic opportunities for an "honest and dignified life, he said.
He said the Lazio region has serious problems meeting healthcare needs. Often, he said, Catholic hospitals fill the gap and therefore should not be penalised when it comes to allocating resources.
On marriage, the Pope said the family founded on marriage between a man and a woman was the basic building block of society. "Unfortunately, we see every day how insistent and threatening are the marks and misinterpretations of this fundamental human and social reality," he said. 'Therefore it is more than ever necessary that the public administrations do not provide backing for such negative tendencies, but °Mae contrary offer families convinced and conctte support.
Italian media unanimoty intetpreted the Pope's speecits a severe reprimand, arid opsition political parties losto time in adding to the criticiai.
"The Pope to Veltruni: Rae is in ruins" was one newspaer headline,