Rome, Italy - Europe is responsible for many of Africa's ills, including corruption, violence, arms trafficking and environmental pillage, Pope Benedict said on Friday.
The Pope, who was elected last month, made his impromptu comments to priests who had asked him questions, including one about Africa, during a visit to the Basilica of St John's in Lateran.
"We must confess that Europe has exported not only faith in Christ but also all sorts of vices," he said.
He listed these as corruption, "violence that is devastating Africa", "abuse of the treasures of this earth", and arms trafficking.
"We Christians, have to do everything possible so that along with faith, there also arrives (in Africa) the strength to resist these vices," he said.
He added that faith could help rebuild "an Africa that is happy, a great continent of new humanism".