Pope Benedict XVI at a huge outdoor Mass on Sunday condemned drug trafficking and corruption in Mexico, urging people to put aside violence and revenge in the country where a murderous war between cartels has led to tens of thousands of deaths. On his last day in Mexico, the pope said Mass for a vibrant crowd that organizers estimated at 300000 people at a sprawling park on the outskirts of Leon in central Mexico, the biggest turnout for his Latin American trip. The 84-year-old pope, wearing purple and white vestments, sprinkled the sermon he read from a massive white altar platform on a hillside with words such as conversion and reconciliation. Many in the crowd covered their heads with hats, sheets and umbrellas against the blazing sunshine as Benedict prayed that Mexicans would be given the strength "to boldly promote peace, harmony, justice and solidarity." Later, speaking during his Sunday noon prayer, he said Mexicans should look to their faith "at this time when so ma! ny families are separated or forced to emigrate, when so many are suffering due to poverty, corruption, domestic violence, drug trafficking, the crisis of values and increased crime." Benedict also urged them to set aside "futile acts of revenge" and banish all hatred. Long lines of people, many praying, singing and carrying pictures of the leader of the world's 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico's patron, flooded into the Mass site for hours. Some camped out for more than a ...
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