Posted on 03/21/2009 7:23:54 PM PDT by Steelfish
'Deadly' stampede at Pope speech
By Louise Redvers BBC News, Luanda
More than 50,000 people came to hear the Pope in Luanda Two people have been reportedly killed in a stampede in a crowd that gathered at a football stadium in Angola for an address by Pope Benedict XVI.
Reports say eight other people were injured and 10 more people required medical assistance at Luanda's Coqueiros Stadium.
More than 50,000 people turned out to hear the Pope in the Angolan capital.
If confirmed, the deaths will no doubt sour what has been a hugely colourful papal visit to the African country.
A girl and a boy were crushed as they tried to enter the stadium gates, according to Portugal's Lusa news agency.
They were taken to hospital by ambulance but declared dead on arrival. A number of other people are also said to have been injured in the stampede.
Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said he was aware of the report but was unable to confirm any details.
No-one from the police or hospital was available for comment. Huge crowds have turned out at every opportunity to see Pope Benedict in Angola, and on Sunday he is due to give to a mass for two million people outside a cement factory.
Security there will now no doubt be tighter than ever.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
Ah, the famous “Blessing of the cement.”.
I can’t remember: who is the Patron Saint of Concrete?
Something isn't right. What are all these oppressed turd-world peeps of color doing, crashing the gates to hear the Word of God preached by an old White Male from colonial Europe? Where is Jeremiah Wright and the Obama community organizers to liberate these poor masses from their oppression by the capitalist church-mongers?
Why, something just ain't right, I tell ya.
Saint Agrigata.
No, that's the patron saint of ABC gravel. It must be Saint Concretia.
Well said! And where is the liberal Church-bashing Homosexual Adoring MSM? And where is the SF Chronicle and the LA Times? Not even a picture.
There's too much congregating going on.
Yes, they do worship themselves, don't they?
He must be giving out sacks of condoms. Isn’t that all Africans need these days?
Trust the BBC to fasten on this as their news of the day.
they wanted to hear but they weren’t interested in listening
Prayers for the children who were lost and their grieving families.
That’s such a sad sad thing to have happened.
To know the mind of God is to be God- we mortals will never know why
One need not even be as distinctive as being the current occupant of the Papal office to fill stadiums with people, though any Pope is going to be really big draw.
I've been getting the impression that being "white" in Africa, doesn't hinder being accepted as having (christian) ministerial authority, more or less generally. It might help, in many locales.
Ya know...this is why I was never all that fond of ‘festival seating’...yep...give me a ticket with a seat number on it anyday.
This scene in Luanda reminds me of the deadly stampeded at a Walmart in NY not so long ago. Guess they'll have to sure the Pope for their uncivilized behavior. Of course it is all his fault how they behaved - just like at Walmart.
Would you really expect less in Obamaland?
This scene in Luanda reminds me of the deadly stampeded at a WalMart in NY not so long ago. Guess they’ll have to sure the Pope for their uncivilied behavior. Of course it is all his fault how they behaved - just like at WalMart.
Here’s the video and article on the Long Island WalMart stampede by Obama folks:
I meant to say SUE the Pope for the stampede they caused.
Obama folks SUED WalMart for their stampede so why not SUE the Pope for their actions?
The people are obviously starving for guidance and hope. I'm just glad the "other" guys haven't showed up to promise their little ray of sunshine.
Probably a big Soccer country.
You do not see this is communities
that prefer baseball............
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