Pope Benedict XVI offered his prayers for the families of the estimated 2.1 million people who have died of AIDS this year, and he asked all people to work to end discrimination against those living with AIDS and HIV.

At the end of his Nov 28 general audience, the pope spoke about the Dec 1 commemoration of World AIDS Day. "I am spiritually close to those who suffer because of this terrible disease and their families, especially those who have lost a relative," he said. "I assure all of them of my prayers," the pope said.

"In addition, I want to exhort all people of good will to multiply their efforts to stop the spread of the HIV virus, to oppose the scorn which often strikes those who are afflicted with it and to take care of the sick, especially when they are still youngsters," he said.

According to figures released Nov 20 by UNAIDS, "global HIV prevalence -- the percentage of people living with HIV -- has levelled off" and the number of new infections each year has fallen.

UNAIDS estimated that in 2007 about 33.2 million people were living with HIV, 2.5 million became infected and 2.1 million died of AIDS.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected, with an estimated 22.5 million people infected, it said.

"The number of new HIV infections per year is now estimated to have peaked in the late 1990s," UNAIDS said, reflecting "natural trends in the epidemic" as well as greater HIV prevention efforts.

The UNAIDS data estimated that 2.5 million children under the age of 15 were living with HIV/AIDS, including 420,000 children who contracted the virus in 2007. More than 330,000 children under 15 died of AIDS during this year.
(CNS)