WORLD BRIEFING / ANGOLA

Tens of thousands of Catholics lined the streets of Angola’s capital, Luanda, for a blessing from Pope Benedict XVI, who urged the country’s faithful to reach out and convert people who believe in witchcraft.

He also gave a message of hope to young people, including some wounded and maimed in Angola’s civil war, when he addressed a crowd of about 30,000 people later at a sports stadium, where a drum concert was held.

Hours before the 81-year-old pontiff arrived at the Coqueiros stadium, two people were killed in a stampede after the gates were opened to people waiting outside, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said.