Pope Benedict XVI, while on board a papal flight to Africa, told reporters that the distribution of condoms is not the answer to the fight against AIDS in Africa. During his trip to Africa, he will tour Cameroon and Angola.

"You can't resolve it with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem," said Benedict.

He said that the disease was "a tragedy that cannot be overcome by money alone, that cannot be overcome through the distribution of condoms, which even aggravates the problems".

The Vatican instead encourages sexual abstinence to fight the spread of the disease. While this is good in theory, some question its effectiveness. Some priests and nuns who work with victims of AIDS in Africa question the church's opposition to condoms.

The timing of the Pope's remarks has outraged health agencies who are trying to stop the spread of HIV and Aids in sub-Saharan Africa, where an estimated 22 million people are infected.

Africa is currently the fastest-growing region for the Roman Catholic Church.