Pope Benedict XVI blessed an anti-gay
marriage mass held Sunday in Madrid, Spain, Clarin.com reported.
Tens of thousands of people lined the
city's downtown Plaza de Colon square to celebrate the mass conducted
by Cardinal Atonio Ruoco Varela, the archbishop of Madrid.
Ruoco Varela attacked the reforms of
the socialist government, which include gay marriage, fast-track
divorce and easier access to abortions.
He talked about the truth of marriage,
a veiled reference to the country's 5 year old gay marriage law.
“Anytime you deny the truth of
marriage and family, in theory or practice, the negative consequences
will come forward rapidly,” he said.
The mass enjoyed the support of the
conservative Popular Party, which has challenged the
constitutionality of the gay marriage law in court. The
party's Mariano Rajoy is attempting to unseat Prime Minister Jose
Luis Rodriguez Zapatero in elections to be held early next year.
Pope Benedict appeared via satellite
from Rome to bless the gathering. He called on Catholic families to
remain authentic to the church values of “loyalty, respect and
understanding.” (The video is embedded in the right panel of this
page.)
This is the fourth annual mass against
gay marriage held at the square.