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Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 13:31 GMT 14:31 UK

all these attacks on western colonialism! its radical islam that is and historicaly enslaved Africa
peter blake, london

Slavery has been going on in Africa for over 3,500 years.

The Prophet Muhammad wasn't born until AD 632, about 2,900 years after the earliest confirmed system of slavery started in Africa.

How about you put away your prejudice, just for once, and actually try looking at the facts !

[Secratariat], Liverpool, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 12:11 GMT 13:11 UK

"Africa is poor, its people hungry and its infrastructures delapidated because of Africans ruling Africans."

It appalls me that this comment reached the top of the HYS topics, and goes to show how neglient the public can be on the matters of the African nation. On a whole, there are many countries in Africa that are developing, but obviously, not all. It's true that there are corrupt leaders, but who put them there? Why is British arms and African debt associated? Does Africa produce weapons?

[UKOKNoWay]

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 11:48 GMT 12:48 UK

The Pope can pontificate till the cows come home, it still doesn't alter the fact that Africa is beyond salvage. Re-colonization may be the only hope but not by the Italian, Portuguese or the Spanish and definitely not by the Americans who themselves need to be re-colonized and properly harnessed.

ADVOCATUS DIABOLI, SEATTLE, United States

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 10:21 GMT 11:21 UK

although modern materialism originated from the west, but this phenomenon has existed well before the rise of the western power. As a asian christian who lived in the west, I think that the influences of materialism is just simply inevitable! the greed of having more is just the nature of all nations. Therefore, instead of seeing materialism as a western influence, I think it's just a trend of people are slowly moving further away from serving and fearing god to prefer to pursue material life.

Hong Yao Wu, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 10:16 GMT 11:16 UK

Suits the Popes argument doesn't it?
A country that refuses to use contraception and has the highest unwanted pregnacies in the world.

Is western materialism influencing Africa?
I dont see Africans moaning about it, I see them driving the latest sports models.
And I dont see Africa shutting its Diamond mine to supply the world with consumer diamonds.
All very double standards.

Pipeworm Netcrawler, Bristol

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 10:12 GMT 11:12 UK

It appears anti-catholicism is alive and well.

Sadly.

Gabriel Rifkind, Lancashire

Heaven forbid people should dislike an organisation which supported the NSDAP, consented to Mussolini's take over of Italy, silently supported the IRA and preaches a message of exclusion (and if you dont agree with that, ask a gay person if they'd like to be a bishop). Oh, and I forgot, actively continues in its supression of the freedoms of women.

Phillip Auge, Maidstone, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:51 GMT 10:51 UK

If Africa could unite and be self sufficiant this wouldn't happen. The country needs a lot of aid so with this strings are attached. It should be a leading nation with all it's mineral resources and rich culture.

[jagman1], Liverpool, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:51 GMT 10:51 UK

All humans are materialistic to some extent. Human nature.

Africans aren't forced to accept Western values. Not all Western values are toxic. Presumably the Pope does not include Catholicism a toxic value.

Shunning materialism won't work. Promoting the positve Christian values (most of which boil down to respecting & caring for others) may work.

Karen, London

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:43 GMT 10:43 UK

LOL.

Catholicism has an ultimate purpose & goal, which is to colonise the world with it's theological beliefs, practices & indoctrine.

It's central purpose is to convert people to the Catholic way of thought.

Over century's, Catholicism was extreme & abused it's influence & position in the world & committed gross attrocity's in it's name.

Today, we have extreme Islamic belief which also commits attrocity in it's name

I think present world colonisation is of, & by religion.

[SKYISBLUESOAMI], UN-SUSTAINABILITY THE EPITATH OF HUMANITY, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 09:40 GMT 10:40 UK

By & large, Africans embrace Western materialism happily without the wherewithal to achieve it, they depend on others to supply them with food & skills and they abide by a 'free for all' mentality, predatory when it comes to dealing with the weak. It is a fertile ground for social injustices & war.

ian cheese, london, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:31 GMT 09:31 UK

The pope simplistically compares changes taking place in some African countries to colonialism. His comments burn with an intense irony that is obviously lost on him. The slow transition from instability, corruption and poverty, to stability, democracy and prosperity may bring freedom from religious power and dogma as it has in other parts of the world. So could it be that Catholic power and influence feels threatened by increasing Asian interest and emerging prosperity in Africa?

Dean Reynolds, Horncastle, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:14 GMT 09:14 UK

I'm afraid I don't take much notice of what this bloke says. Yes he's just an ordinary man folks not a deity or God. Anyone elses point of view is just as valid the only difference is he wears a funny hat. In view of the past and recent transgressions of this organisationI wouldn't put too much emphasis on such pronouncements.

Nick smith, Huddersfield

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:10 GMT 09:10 UK

Another self inflicted beating and guilt trip for the Western world to indulge in. No mention of course of China's activities in Africa, it does not chime in with the prevailing hair shirt and guilt trip.

Andy, York

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:01 GMT 09:01 UK

As it is a stated objective of the Catholic Church to dominate the world' I would say that the Pope and his Church are the single biggest threat to Africa.

Jim McCann, Dumbarton, United Kingdom

Added: Tuesday, 6 October, 2009, 08:00 GMT 09:00 UK

My interpretation of his words were that the shallow and false bling culture of the LA Hip-Hop set were disproportionately attractive to the poor and impoverished - and what he meant was that everyone should look at the impact on society of that culture and decide whether that was an aim worth pursuing.....or whether the Africans had enough self-respect and intelligence to see it for what it actually is. The French had a similar internal argument over English language music as I recall......

Le Burb, Little Lagos