[BOB] ABERNETHY: But this condom thing, that was not an accident. I mean, all questions for the pope on his plane must be submitted in advance, in writing. So he knew what he was going to be asked?<\/p>\n
Mr. [KEVIN] ECKSTROM: Exactly. I mean, they knew exactly what they were getting into on this one. And it always makes you wonder if they were actually trying to make some news out of this. You know, the pope\u2019s trip to Africa was news before he even landed in Cameroon.<\/p>\n
ABERNETHY: It was, as you said, very successful. He encouraged the Catholics in Africa?<\/p>\n
Mr. ECKSTROM: Right. I mean, this is a growing, thriving part of the church that the pope sort of wanted to see and almost needs to see. He\u2019s been decrying this dictatorship of relativism in Europe in sort of an anemic church. And you go to Africa and they can\u2019t fit enough people into the churches. They can\u2019t ordain enough pastors for all the people. It\u2019s a rapidly growing part of the church, and I think there\u2019s a bit of an energy boost for both sides there.<\/p>\n