Pope criticizes atheism and Marxism

VATICAN CITY, Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI criticized atheism saying it is the source of the "greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice" to humanity.

His second encyclical, a 76-page document, also condemned modern Christianity's focus on individual salvation, saying it diverts from Jesus' teachings that Christianity offers salvation to everyone, ABC News reported Friday.

Benedict pointed to the evolution of Christian thought as moving from the foundations of Christianity that preached a universal end to suffering.

The pontiff singled out Marxism as a movement influencing the prevalence of atheism and historical injustices.

"A world marked by so much injustice, innocent suffering and cynicism of power cannot be the work of a good God," he wrote.