Group sends condoms to pope

VATICAN CITY, March 27 (UPI) -- Vatican City will soon receive scores of condoms in the mail as part of a protest against Pope Benedict XVI, demonstration organizers say.

Organizers of a group on the Facebook Web site said they have orchestrated a mass mailing of condoms to the Vatican Friday in protest of Benedict's recent condemnation of condom use to stem the spread of AIDS in Africa, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

Other Facebook groups similar to the Italian group have agreed to take part in the condom deliveries.

Benedict said the use of condoms in Africa is increasing, not hindering, the spread of AIDS.

The Italian group behind the protest has more than 26,000 members but up to 60,000 individuals could be mailing a condom to the Vatican, Der Spiegel said. The German publication said some involved parties have estimated the final condom tally could reach 5 million.