Pope acknowledges colonial injustice in Americas: Yahoo News
"In a speech to bishops at the end of a visit to Brazil earlier this month, the Pope said the Church had not imposed itself on the indigenous peoples of the Americas. He said they had welcomed the arrival of European priests at the time of the conquest as they were 'silently longing' for Christianity. Embracing it purified them, the Pope said."

You know, a lot of people I know keep telling me what a brilliant guy this Benedict is, all the books he has written, all the deep theological insights, etc. So how can he say such stupid things? Has he no proof readers? Is there no one in the Vatican that says "You know, this line about being purified and in fact the whole speech which completely ignores centuries of oppression and genocide, you might want to rethink that." I have to believe that there ARE people telling him that and that he IS a smart guy and that he DOES know exactly what he is doing.

And he does it anyway.