Indigenous leaders in Brazil have reacted angrily to Pope Benedict’s comments that their predecessors (forfædre) had willingly converted to Christianity, writes BBC online.
One Amazon Indian leader, Jecinaldo Satere Mawe, said the Pope’s remarks had been arrogant and disrespectful.
Pope Benedict XVI told Latin American bishops in Brazil that American Indians had been “silently longing” to become Christians 500 years ago.
The Pope has now returned home after his five-day trip to Brazil.
The Vatican has made no further comment.
