"The building of a more secure future for the human family means first and foremost working for the integral development of peoples," said Pope Benedict XVI.

“Especially through the provision of adequate health care, the elimination of pandemics like AIDS, broader educational opportunities to young people, the promotion of women and the curbing of the corruption and militarisation which divert precious resources from many of our brothers and sisters in the poorer countries."

(Excerpts from address of Pope Benedict XVI when receiving credentials from new U.S.A. Ambassador to the Holy See, Professor Mary Ann Glendon, February, 29, 2008 www.Zenit.org )

Following the tradition and inspiration of his predecessor, Pope Benedict has supported very strongly the Church's response to HIV and other pandemics such as tuberculosis. 

Thus, in observance of World AIDS Day, December 2007, he said, “I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families, especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers. Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children."

In observance of World TB Day in 2006, he called for "... renewed commitment at the global level, that the necessary resources may be made available to cure our sick brothers and sisters, who often also live in situations of great poverty.  I encourage the initiatives of assistance and solidarity towards them, hoping that they may always be guaranteed dignified conditions of life". (Vatican Information Service 22 March 2006)

In “Proximity to People Suffering from Infectious Illnesses", an article on the address of Pope Benedict XVI to International Conference organised by the Pontifical Council on Health Care, on the theme “Pastoral Aspects of the Treatment of Infectious Diseases”, 24 November 2007, he said: “How can we forget the many people with infections illnesses forced into segregation, and sometimes marked by a humiliating stigma?

“The seriousness of these lamentable situations is highlighted by the disparity of social and economic conditions between the North and South of the world. Such situations must be answered with concrete initiatives that favour proximity to the sick, enliven the evangelisation of culture, and inspire the social and economic policies of governments.”
 
The late Pope John Paul II was among the first leaders of major faith communities to urge a compassionate, non-judgmental response to people living with or otherwise affected by the pandemic of HIV/AIDS. During his visit to the United States in 1989, he revealed his fatherly care by embracing a child living with AIDS and countered the mistaken reasoning of some people who claimed that the HIV pandemic might represent God’s displeasure with sinners.

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Message of Pope Benedict XVI on World Aids Day, Vatican City, 28 November, 2007

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Holy See message to the United Nations on AIDS
"All of us must clearly step up our efforts"

New York, 22 May, 2007; statement which Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer at the United Nations, gave today at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly on the implementation of the declaration of commitment on HIV/AIDS.

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Message of the Holy Father to the youth of the world for 22^nd World Youth Day.  The 2007 theme is Jesus' words from the Gospel of John: "Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another." The message is dated 27 January, 2007. Sample extracts from the English-language version are available here.

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The pastoral care of infectious diseases from the political-social point of view
by SER. Mgr. Silvano M. Tomasi, CS (Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and Specialized Agencies in Geneva), at the 21st International Conference of the Pontifical Council on Health Care: The pastoral aspects of the treatment of infectious diseases, 24 November, 2006, Vatican City.

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Address of Cardinal Javier Lozano Barragàn (Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care)
to the United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting on HIV/AIDS,New York, 2 June, 2006

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Message for World AIDS Day, 1 December, 2005
To bishops’ conferences, national and international institutions and organizations, non-governmental organizations and associations involved in prevention and assistance, to men and women of good will.

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Pope assures AIDS sufferers of his support; Vatican City, 30 November, 2005 (EN,SP,FR,IT) (VIS) - "At the end of the general audience, held this morning in St. Peter's Square, Benedict XVI recalled that tomorrow, 1 December, is World AIDS Day."

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Address of His Holiness Benedict XVI to the bishops of South Africa, Botwana, Swaziland, Namibia and Lesotho on their Ad Limina Apostolorum visit; Friday, 10 June, 2005.

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Message of John Paul II to the Secretary-General of the United Nations; 
Special session of the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on 25-27 June, 2001.

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The Church faced with the Challenge of AIDS: Prevention Worthy of the Human Person and Assistance in Complete Solidarity.
Address of the Holy Father Pope John Paul II to the IV International Conference of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers, 15 November, 1989