From his palace at the Vatican, Pope Benedict warned bishops of an ongoing “new colonialism” that exports capitalist materialism — what he called “toxic spiritual rubbish” — to the African continent.

The BBC:

Pope Benedict has warned that a form of colonialism continues to blight Africa.

Opening a three-week synod of African bishops, he said political colonialism was over.

But he said the developed world continued to export materialism – which he called “toxic spiritual rubbish” – to the continent.

Almost 200 bishops from 53 African states have gathered to discuss how the Catholic Church can help resolve the continent’s social injustices and wars.

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