Pope seeks better recognition of Church in Mexico

Pope Benedict XVI called for better recognition of the Church upon arriving Friday in Mexico, where he received a rousing welcome in the central, heavily Catholic state of Guanajuato. The pope arrived to ringing church bells and cheering crowds at Guanajuato International Airport to start his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America, also including two days in communist Cuba. "With this brief visit, I wish to greet all Mexicans and to include all the nations and peoples of Latin America," the pope said, on only his second visit to the region after a trip to Brazil in 2007. "I wish to confirm those who believe in Christ in their faith, by strengthening and encouraging them to revitalize their faith," Benedict said, after greeting Mexican President Felipe Calderon. "The Church... does not compete with other private or public initiatives... Nor does she have any aim other than doing good in an unselfish and respectful way to those in need." Although Mexico is numerically the world's second most-Catholic nation -- where 84 percent of the population has been baptized -- Catholic numbers have dropped in recent years, partly due to the rise of rival religious movements. Benedict also said he would pray "particularly for those who suffer because of old and new rivalries, resentments and all forms of violence," amid high expectations for a strong message of peace during a wave of drug violence that has left some 50,000 dead in five years. In a sign of his possible messages during the trip, Benedict called on Mexicans to overcome "the worship of money" that feeds drug violence and urged Cuba to leave behind a Marxism that "no longer corresponds to reality," in comments on the journey to Mexico. The weeklong trip, Benedict's first to both Mexico and Cuba, will be a test of stamina for the pope, who turns 85 next month.