World IN BRIEF : VENEZUELA : 1 Million Hear Pope Decry Materialism
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Pope John Paul II, speaking to a crowd of 1 million on the last day of a Latin American trip, appealed to Venezuelans to reject materialism, selfishness and the corruption they cause. An exuberant crowd--by far the largest of his weeklong tour--turned out for the pope’s last Mass of the trip, filling the runway and fields of Caracas’ La Carlota airport. “Today’s idols, among others, are materialism and selfishness,” the pope said, “with the corollary of sensualism and hedonism, of violence and corruption.” Rumors abounded that the 75-year-old pope felt unwell toward the end of the Mass, but the Vatican denied it.
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