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  • Japan tsunami 'Ghost Ship' haunts Canada coast

    Handout photo / Department of National Defence

    A Japanese fishing boat that was lost at sea after the 2011 tsunami has been found off the coast of B.C.

     

    Vancouver Sun reports:  VANCOUVER -- After being flushed out to sea by last year’s massive tsunami and earthquake, a Japanese squid-fishing boat has drifted across the Pacific Ocean and was about 120 nautical miles off British Columbia’s north coast Friday evening. The 150-foot ship was found drifting right-side-up about 140 nautical miles (260 km) from Cape Saint James, on the southern tip of Haida Gwaii.

    “It’s been drifting across the Pacific for a year, so it’s pretty beat up,” said marine search coordinator Jeff Olsson of Victoria’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.

    A ship unmoored by the 2011 tsunami has arrived near British Columbia's north coast. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

     

     

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  • Rallies for Trayvon Martin get underway in Washington DC and Florida

    Win McNamee / Getty Images

    Members of the National Black United Front hold a Trayvon Martin Solidarity Rally outside the U.S. Department of Justice on March 26, 2012 in Washington, DC. Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old Florida high school student, was shot and killed, in Sanford, Florida on Feb. 26.

    Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP

    Ayesha Fleary joins a rally in front of a Department of Justice office, March 26, 2012, in Washington.

    NBC News and msnbc.com staff report that Thousands of people streamed through the streets of Sanford, Fla., on Monday to demand that authorities prosecute the man who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin one month ago.

    The protesters were on their way to a special meeting of the City Commission at the town's Civic Center that began at 5 p.m. ET, where members were to hold a hearing on the killing of Martin, who was unarmed, by George Zimmerman, 28, a neighborhood watch volunteer.

    Other rallies and vigils are planned for later tonight in Atlanta, Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Chicago and Des Moines.

    Mario Tama / Getty Images

    Trayvon Martin supporters hold hands while marching through downtown, March 26, 2012, before the start of a town hall meeting about Martin's death in Sanford, Florida. The teenager's family addressed the town hall meeting along with Rev. Al Sharpton. Martin was killed by George Michael Zimmerman while on neighborhood watch patrol in the city.

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    Trayvon Martin's parents maintain he was trying to get away from George Zimmerman, despite claims that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense. Meanwhile, on Monday, thousands of people descended upon Sanford, Fla., demanding justice for the Florida teen who was shot while on his way home from a convenience store. NBC's Ron Allen reports.

  • Pope Benedict visits Cuba to strengthen ties with Cuban Catholics

    Rickey Rogers / Reuters

    People wave flags during the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI in Santiago de Cuba March 26, 2012.

    Ramon Espinosa / AP

    Pope Benedict XVI walks with Cuba's President Raul Castro, right, as he arrives to Antonio Maceo airport in Santiago de Cuba, Cuba, Monday March 26, 2012.

    NBC News reports:

    Since the Cuban revolution in 1959, the Catholic Church has struggled to raise its public profile here. For decades, under the Marxist government of Fidel Castro, the church was ostracized and believers were punished. The country was officially declared atheist until the government loosened that description in the 1990s.

    But, with Fidel Castro out of power now and his younger brother, Raul, in charge, the church has become much more accepted by the government.

    NBC analyst George Weigel discusses Pope Benedict's trip to Cuba and that Vatican's firm anti-communism stance.

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  • Nature's Best Photography: Vine Snake in Choco, Colombia

    Robin Moore / Nature's Best Photography

    Slender and arboreal, vine snakes can reach lengths of six-and-a-half feet and range in color from bright green to rusty brown. Slow moving, they depend upon camouflage for protection. Found in the jungles of Central and South America vine snakes blend with the thick vegetation, often appearing to be just another vine.

    Photographer’s comments: “I was scrambling through bushes, wading up streams, and looking for anything scaly or slimy in one of the most bio-diverse forests in the world when we came across this vine snake. I was lying on my stomach to frame the shot when, as if on cue, a fly buzzed down and used the snake’s head as a landing pad. As soon as I clicked the shutter, the fly departed. Some photographs come about through careful and diligent planning, but this one was about being in the right place at the right time.” 

    Photographic information: Canon 5D Mark II; 100mm ƒ/2.8 lens; UV filter; 1/200 seconds at ƒ/10; ISO 160; 580EX flash off-camera; Lumiquest softbox; hand-held. See more photos at www.robindmoore.com

     

    Each year Nature’s Best Photography magazine hosts the Windland Smith Rice International Awards Exhibition. Msnbc.com and and Nature’s Best are sharing some of the 2011 competition results with our readers here in PhotoBlog.

    A print exhibition of the winning images and other entries will be displayed from March 30, 2012 to Jan. 6, 2013, at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

    Competition overview: The Nature's Best Photography concept began with simple yet dynamic goals: to celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature through the art of photography, and to use this far-reaching medium as a creative tool for encouraging greater public interest in outdoor enjoyment and conservation stewardship. The annual Windland Smith Rice International Awards program evolved from this ambitious mission to become one of the most highly-respected and visually compelling nature photography competitions in the world. More than 25,000 entries are received and judged each year in the International Awards. See more in the "Enter Photos" section.

    Related content

    See some of the 2010 winners of the Windland Smith Rice International Awards Exhibition

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  • Pakistanis protest continuing energy shortfall

    K.M. Chaudary / AP

    Angry protesters burn the furniture of a gas station to condemn fierce power cuts in Lahore, Pakistan on March 26, 2012. Pakistan is suffering from an energy crisis leading to the closure of industrial units and causing long hours of load shedding.

    The Pakistan Times reported as far back as May 2008:

    Slideshow: Pakistan: A nation in turmoil

    Khuram Parvez / Reuters

    Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.

    Launch slideshow

    Pakistan is suffering a serious crisis in the electricity generation sector. According to a recent estimate around 67% of the nation’s population lives in darkness.

    The power shortage is a chronic problem that has slowed Pakistan’s social and economic growth. The problem is not a new one and dates back to the early nineties when the power supply was exceeded by the demand for electricity by thousands of MW.

    The Wikipedia entry on Pakistan’s electricity sector says:

    For many years the matter of balancing Pakistan's supply against the demand for electricity has remained a largely unresolved matter. Pakistan faces a significant challenge in revamping its network responsible for the supply of electricity.

    While the government claims credit for overseeing a turnaround in the economy through a comprehensive recovery, it has just failed to oversee a similar improvement in the quality of the network for electricity supply.

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  • Beachgoers enjoy warm spring weather in Bournemouth

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    People enjoy the warm fine weather besides the sea on March 26 in Bournemouth, England. The Met Office expect today to be the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures expected to reach about 70 degrees Fahrenheit across many parts of the country.

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    People enjoy the warm fine weather besides the sea on March 26 in Bournemouth, England.

    Matt Cardy / Getty Images

    People enjoy the warm fine weather besides the sea on March 26 in Bournemouth, England.

     

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  • Protesters take sides as Supreme Court hears health care arguments

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Demonstrators for and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act march and chant in outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on March 26, in Washington.

    Jim Lo Scalzo / EPA

    Anti-abortion advocates with Justice House of Prayer gather outside the Supreme Court as the justices hear oral arguments on cases related to health care reform law in Washington. Passing a major reform of the US health insurance system was President Barack Obama's signature legislative achievement.

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Demonstrators for and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act march and chant in outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on March 26, in Washington, DC. Today the high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality of the act.

    Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

    Police officers keep a close watch on people demonstrating in support of and against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act outside the U.S. Supreme Court Building on March 26, in Washington, DC. The high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality of th act.

    Mark Wilson / Getty Images

    Linda Door protests against President Obama's health care plan in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Building on March 26, in Washington, DC. Today the high court, which has set aside six hours over three days, will hear arguments over the constitutionality President Barack Obama's Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

    Charles Dharapak / AP

    Members of the public line up as the Supreme Court begins three days of arguments on the health care reform law signed by President Obama.

    Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

    A line of people hoping to be allowed in to watch legal arguments over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the Supreme Court stretches around the corner in Washington March 26. Two years after President Barack Obama signed into law the healthcare overhaul, the Supreme Court on Monday takes up a historic test of whether it is valid under the country's Constitution.

     

    By NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Brooke Brower

    *** Day One at the Supreme Court: For the first time in several months, the top political story won’t be taking place on the Republican campaign trail, or at the White House, or on Capitol Hill. Instead, today’s top story occurs over at the U.S. Supreme Court on the issue that took up much of 2009 and 2010: health care. There will be three days of oral arguments, and today’s topic is over whether the Supreme Court can even hear the case at this particular time. “The justices will hear 90 minutes of argument about whether an obscure 19th-century law — the Anti-Injunction Act — means that the court cannot pass judgment on the law until its key provisions go into effect in 2014,” the Washington Post notes. “It is the rare issue on which both sides agree: the Obama administration lawyers and those representing the states and private organization challenging the new law argue that the Supreme Court should decide the constitutional question now.”

    Click here to continue reading how the Supreme Court's decision could shape the legacy of President Obama.

     

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  • Obama and Medvedev talk nukes in Seoul

    Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

    U.S. President Barack Obama, left, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stand together at the end of a bilateral meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March 26, 2012.

    Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

    U.S. President Barack Obama, left, chats with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during a bilateral meeting at the Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, March, 26, 2012.

    The leaders of the two super-powers and former Cold war foes met in South Korea to discuss the state of nuclear arms with other world leaders.

    At the very beginning of the photo opportunity after the the bilateral meeting between them, the two leaders, seemingly unaware of a live microphone, had this hushed exchange about missile defense:

    Obama: On all these issues, but particularly missile defense, this, this can be solved but it's important for him to give me space.

    Medvedev: Yeah, I understand. I understand your message about space. Space for you...

    Obama: This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility

    Medvedev: I understand. I will transmit this information to Vladmir.

    White House spokesman Ben Rhodes responded to reporters' inquiries about the conversation saying:

    Ben Rhodes: "The United States is committed to implementing our missile defense system, which we've repeatedly said is not aimed at Russia. However, given the longstanding difference between the US and Russia on this issue, it will take time and technical work before we can try to reach an agreement. Since 2012 is an election year in both countries, with an election and leadership transition in Russia and an election in the United States, it is clearly not a year in which we are going to achieve a breakthrough. Therefore, President Obama and President Medvedev agreed that it was best to instruct our technical experts to do the work of better understanding our respective positions, providing space for continued discussions on missile defense cooperation going forward."

    Story: Obama says the U.S has a 'moral obligation' to lead efforts to reduce nuclear stockpiles

    Story: Obama vows to pursue further nuclear cuts with Russia

  • Tibetan man sets himself on fire in protest

    Manish Swarup / AP

    A Tibetan man screams as he runs engulfed in flames after self-immolating at a protest in New Delhi, India, ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the country Monday, March 26, 2012. The Tibetan activist lit himself on fire at the gathering and was rushed to hospital with unknown injuries, reports said.

    Reuters reports:A Tibetan man set himself on fire in New Delhi on Monday at a protest against a visit by Chinese president Hu Jintao, who is due to arrive in India later this week for a summit meeting.  

    Thirty Tibetans have set themselves on fire, mostly in southwestern China, in the past year to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet, according to Tibetan rights groups. At least 20 of them have died.

    Update 7:37am ET, Wednesday: The man, Jamphel Yeshi, 27 has dies from his injuries according to the general secretary of the Tibetan Youth Congress.

    Adnan Abidi / Reuters

    Tibetan exiles try to douse the flames from their comrade, Jamphel Yeshi, after he set himself on fire during a protest against the upcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India in New Delhi March 26, 2012. Hu is scheduled to attend the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit in India on March 29.

    Adnan Abidi / Reuters

    Jamphel Yeshi, a Tibetan exile, is taken to hospital after he sets himself on fire during a protest against the upcoming visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to India in New Delhi March 26, 2012. Hu is scheduled to attend the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) Summit in India on March 29.

     

  • Chinese suffering from a rise in "nobleman diseases"

    David Gray / Reuters

    A diabetes patient has his mouth photographed for records before seeing diabetes specialist at the Guanganmen Chinese medicine Hospital in Beijing.

    In 30 years, the Chinese people have gone from having barely enough to eat to worrying about spreading waistlines, leaving the healthcare system struggling to keep up with an exponential rise in "nobleman diseases" like diabetes.

    "In the last 20 years, diabetes has developed a lot, but it's only now showing up in the medical system," said Dr Tong Xiaolin, vice director of the Guanganmen Hospital in Beijing, who sees dozens of patients during Monday office hours.

    Diabetes afflicts nearly 10 percent of Chinese adults - roughly the same proportion as in the United States - up from 1 percent in 1980.

    --Reuters

    Related links:

    David Gray / Reuters

    A diabetes patient has her blood pressure taken as another patient is checked by diabetes specialist Doctor Tong Xiao Lin at the Guanganmen Chinese medicine Hospital in Beijing on March 19.

    David Gray / Reuters

    A diabetes patient sits in a wheelchair, under a drawing of an old Chinese medical scholar, as she waits in a corridor of the Guanganmen Chinese medicine Hospital to see a diabetes specialist.

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  • Kansas celebrates 80-67 victory over North Carolina

    Sarah Conard / Reuters

    Kansas Jayhawks forward Thomas Robinson and guard Tyshawn Taylor celebrate their victory over the North CarolinaTar Heels.

    Sarah Conard / Reuters

    North Carolina Tar Heels Justin Watts, P.J. Hairston, John Henson and Kendall Marshall sit on the bench during their loss to the Kansas Jayhawks.

    Tyshawn Taylor broke out of his slump in a big way Sunday, scoring 22 points and leading Kansas back to the Final Four with an 80-67 victory over former coach Roy Williams and top-seeded North Carolina.

    --The Associated Press

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  • Worshipers don hoodies to show support for Trayvon Martin

    Seth Wenig / AP

    Patrick Mulchay, center, joins other congregants in song during a service at Middle Collegiate Church in New York on March 25.

    Vino Wong / AP

    Rev. Raphael Warnock wears a hoodie during his morning sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church on March 25.

    By Jon Sweeney, NBC News

    Worshipers in cities nationwide were wearing hoodies to services Sunday to honor Trayvon Martin, a Florida teenager shot to death last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer.

    Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and Middle Collegiate Church in New York were among the churches that honored the teen Sunday.

    "I will also preach in a hoodie. We are doing this not for show, but to send a message that all humanity is sacred."  the Rev. Raphael G. Warnock said in a statement posted on Ebenezer Baptist Church's website.

    --Msnbc.com wire services contributed to this blog post.

    Related link:

    Seth Wenig / AP

    A man wears a hoodie before the start of a service at Middle Collegiate Church in New York.

    Seth Wenig / AP

    Congregants arrive at Middle Collegiate Church in New York on March 25.

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  • Pope Benedict XVI greeted with warmth, sombrero in Silao

    Yuri Cortez / AFP - Getty Images

    Wearing a large brim traditional Mexican hat, Pope Benedict XVI waves at the crowd upon arriving at Bicentennial Park in Silao, Guanajuato State, Mexico on March 25.

    Dario Lopez-Mills / AP

    Pilgrims cheer and sing as they wait at the site where Pope Benedict XVI will give a Mass in Bicentennial Park near Silao, Mexico.

    Pope Benedict XVI rode in the popemobile through an enthusiastic crowd in Silao, Mexico en route to the Mass at Bicentennial Park. One person handed the pope a broad-brimmed Mexican sombrero that he wore on his way to the altar at the sun-drenched park.

    Many Mexicans said they were surprised by the warmth of Benedict, whose image is more reserved and academic than his popular predecessor, John Paul II, who was dubbed "Mexico's pope."

    Related links:

    --Msnbc.com wire services contributed to this post

    Alberto Pizzoli / AFP - Getty Images

    Pope Benedict XVI is helped with a large brim traditional Mexican hat, as a crowd greetes him on his arrival at Bicentennial Park in Silao, Mexico.

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  • French 'Spiderman' climbs Jakarta's Bakrie Tower

    Adi Weda / EPA

    Alain Robert, the 'French Spiderman', climbs the Bakrie Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 25.

    Adi Weda / EPA

    Alain Robert, who has been dubbed the 'French Spiderman' waves after reaching top of the Bakrie Tower in Jakarta.

    By Jon Sweeney, NBC News

    Alain Robert, a French rock climber who has become famous for scaling tall buildings worldwide, climbs the 50 floors to the top of the 705-foot-high Bakrie Tower in Jakarta.

    Robert, known as the French 'Spiderman', has also climbed the Sears Tower, Sydney Opera House, Eiffel Tower, and Empire State Building without any safety devices.

    --Msnbc.com wire services contributed to this blog post.

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  • Jim Gehrz / Minneapolis Star Tribune via Zuma Press

    Johnny Peers pulls a wagon loaded with the co-stars of his comedy act, Johnny Peers and The Muttville Comix backstage at the Twin Cities Pet Expo in Minneapolis, Minn.

    Chauffeuring talent at Twin Cities Pet Expo

    Animal lovers gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the tenth annual Twin Cities Pet Expo March 24-25. The event featured exhibitors as well as entertainment including Johnny Peers and the Muttville Comix.

    Johnny Peers's act includes his dogs jumping rope, climbing ladders and other feats of dog gone craziness.

  • Obama visits Korean DMZ

    Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

    U.S. President Barack Obama looks through binoculars to see North Korea from Observation Post Ouellette in the Demilitarized Zone on Sunday.

    NBC News reports: SEOUL -- While at the DMZ, the president spoke to South Korean troops, then went to Observation Post Ouellette, the closest post overlooking the demarcation line on the most heavily guarded border in the world.

    The observation post is about 25 miles northwest of Seoul inside the DMZ and just 100 yards from demarcation line. The North Korean army is visible from this observation post and it was expected that the North Koreans would jam cell phone signals while the president was visiting the area.

     

     

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  • Pope focuses on Mexico's children during visit

     

    Yuri Cortez / AFP - Getty Images

    Pope Benedict XVI holds a girl's face on March 24, 2012 in Guanajuato, Mexico. Pope Benedict XVI is in Mexico on his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America which will include a two-day visit to Cuba.

    Yuri Cortez / AFP - Getty Images

    People listen to Pope Benedict XVI at Peace square in Guanajuato, Mexico on Saturday.

     

    Edgard Garrido / Reuters

    Faithfuls wave during the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Mexico.

    AP reports: Pope Benedict XVI worked to build the future of Mexico's church by reaching out to children Saturday as tens of thousands of teenagers streamed into a vast, shade-starved park to camp out overnight ahead of a gigantic papal Mass.

    Benedict awoke to the pre-dawn serenade of two dozen youths from a Guadalajara church group who sang him a traditional folk song after getting as close as security would allow to the college in Leon where the pontiff is staying during his three-day visit to Mexico.

     

    Alexandre Meneghini / AP

    Pope Benedict XVI waves to faithful from his popemobile as he makes his way to Plaza de la Paz or Peace Plaza in Guanajuato, Mexico on Saturday.

     

     

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  • Rallies in cities across U.S. call for justice in Trayvon Martin case

    Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

    People gather at a "Stand Up for Trayvon Martin" rally in Washington March 24. Many participants gathered in all black attire or hoodie sweatshirts, or carried tea and Skittles, in memory of the 17-year-old high school student who was shot and killed last month by a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford, Fla,

    Mnsbc.com staff and news services report: Thousands of people in cities across the country planned to march this weekend to call for justice in memory of Trayvon Martin, the black teenager shot to death last month by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida.

    Rallies were planned Saturday in Washington, Chicago, Dallas and Tampa, Fla. Seattle, Baltimore and Atlanta were among other cities hosting weekend events. Protesters were encouraged to wear hoodies – the type of garment Martin had on when he was killed. Read more.

    Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

    Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

  • Syrian rebel groups create formal alliance, but still depend on homemade weapons

    AFP - Getty Images

    A member of the Free Syrian Army looks through binoculars at a camp in the mountains near the village of Janudieh in the northern province of Idlib on March 18. The head of the rebel Free Syrian Army, Riad al-Asaad, announced on March 24 the formation of a military council grouping all rebel chiefs, including Syria's most senior army deserter General Mustafa al-Sheikh.

    AFP - Getty Images

    A defected Syrian soldier, now a member of the Free Syrian Army, displays a homemade nail bomb at a mountain outpost near the village of Janudieh in the northern province of Idlib on March 18.

    There have been many news reports on the Syrian rebels' plea to the international community for weapons to help their fight against President Bashar Assad and his forces. These images provide a good look at the informal weaponry they are dependent upon today. Recently, photojournalist Rodrigo Abd recalled his dangerous trip to report in Syria, where the homemade grenades carried by rebels who helped them travel through the country were as nerve wracking as the bombs and bullets flying overhead.

    AFP - Getty Images

    A defected Syrian soldier, now a member of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), holds an improvised explosive device (IED) at a camp in the northern rebel stronghold of Idlib near the Turkish border on March 17.

    International condemnation and high-level diplomacy have failed to stop the year-old Syria crisis, which the U.N. says has killed more than 8,000 people, many of them civilian protesters.

    More news from Syria

     

  • Fur traders take fox pelts to market in Switzerland

    Arno Balzarini / EPA

    Huntsman shouldering fox furs are on their way to the traditional fur market in Thusis, Swiss canton of Grisons, March 24.

    According to the Swiss Broadcasting corporation, fox hunting is legal in Switzerland during the winter months. Prices for pelts were higher decades ago, but animal rights protests against fur decreased demand significantly in the 1980s, which lowered prices. Recently, demand appears to be rebounding, let by Eastern European and Chinese markets.

    A look at the Belarus fur industry

  • Tributes to Trayvon Martin continue, from churches to the NBA

    Mario Tama / Getty Images

    Supporters hold hands during a prayer vigil for Trayvon Martin at Allen Chapel AME church on March 23, in Sanford, Fla.

    Duane Burleson / AP

    Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade wears a message honoring Trayvon Martin on his shoe before their NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Friday, March 23, in Auburn Hills, Mich. Wade and LeBron James wore messages written on their shoes to make their reactions about the Trayvon Martin situation public.

    National attention on the death of Trayvon Martin continues, nearly a month after the 17-year-old was shot and killed by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman in Sanford, Fla. Students in Florida walked out of school early Friday, churches held vigils and even NBA players wore tributes to the teen during Friday night games.

    Geraldo Rivera blames hoodie for Trayvon Martin death

    Obama: 'If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon'

    Alan Diaz / AP

    Michael M. Krop Senior High School students carry signs and chant during a rally demanding justice for Trayvon Martin, Friday, March 23, in Miami Gardens, Fla.

  • Pope Benedict arrives in Mexico, addresses drug violence

    Yuri Cortez / AFP - Getty Images

    The motorcade escorting the popemobile of Pope Benedict XVI drives along Lopez Mateos Boulevard in the City of Leon, Mexico on March 23.

    Reuters reports: Pope Benedict arrived in Mexico on Friday promising to "unmask the evil" of drug trafficking in a country that has been ravaged by a surge in gang violence over the past five years.

    Alberto Pizzoli / AFP - Getty Images

    Pope Benedict XVI (C) is welcomed by Mexican President Felipe Calderon (R) and his wife Margarita Zavala, upon his arrival at Silao's international airport in Guanajuato, Mexico, on March 23. The Pope arrived in Mexico for his first trip to Spanish-speaking Latin America which will also include a two-day visit to Cuba.

    The pope began his three-day visit in the central city of Leon with a festive welcome from President Felipe Calderon after making strong statements aboard his papal plane about Mexico's spiraling drug war.

    "We must do whatever is possible to combat this destructive evil against humanity and our youth," he told reporters, referring to the violent conflict between rival drug cartels and the state that has killed 50,000 people since 2007.

    Dario Lopez-Mills / AP

    People wait for the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI at the airport in Silao, Mexico.

    "It is the responsibility of the Church to educate consciences, to teach moral responsibility and to unmask the evil, to unmask this idolatry of money which enslaves man, to unmask the false promises, the lies, the fraud that is behind drugs," the pope added.

    Alexandre Meneghini / AP

    A boy peers through toy binoculars in a crowd of faithful waiting for Pope Benedict XVI's arrival via pope mobile, in Leon, Mexico, Friday March 23. Benedict landed in Silao, Mexico, Friday afternoon, for the start of a weeklong trip to Mexico and Cuba; his first visit to both countries.

     

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