Zapatero snubs Pope at Mass for "the family"

By Fiona Govan in Valencia

More than a million worshippers congregated at the city's futuristic arts and science park, where the Pope gave a homily praising the traditional family founded on the "indissoluble marriage between a man and a woman".

In a veiled attack on the liberal laws introduced by Mr Zapatero's socialist government since it came to power two years ago, the pontiff said: "In contemporary culture, we often see an excessive exaltation of the freedom of the individual."

Mr Zapatero's government has been at loggerheads with the Roman Catholic Church over a domestic programme of radical legislation, which includes giving marriage and adoption rights to homosexuals and relaxing divorce laws.

Pope Benedict urged the worshippers, who included King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, to join forces with Church organisations in the "promotion of the authentic good of the family in contemporary society".

"Attempts are being made to organise the life of society on the basis of subjective and ephemeral desires alone with no reference to … the dignity of each human being and his inalienable rights and duties," he said.

The event was the last of the 26-hour papal visit. The absence of Mr Zapatero and his deputy was seen by many as a snub to the Pope.

Fernando Meraleda, a spokesman for the government, said that heads of state were not expected to attend such events.

However, this is the first time in Spanish history that a religious ceremony presided over by a visiting pope has not been attended by the country's leader.

A spokesman for the conservative opposition Popular Party said: "The government should take care of the relationship with the Vatican."

Local media reported that Mr Zapatero's decision not to attend Mass had also caused a "certain irritation" in the papal entourage.

Mr Zapatero did not ignore the Pope's presence entirely. On Saturday afternoon he attended a 15-minute private audience with the 79-year-old pontiff.