Demonstrators carrying condoms have greeted Pope Benedict XVI on his return to the Vatican after his visit to Cameroon and Angola, his first to Africa as pontiff.

After arriving back at an airport near Rome on Monday, he was flown by helicopter to the Vatican.

In St Peter's Square, about 50 demonstrators armed with condoms and candles in memory of the people who died of AIDS waved placards backing the use of contraceptives.

The Pope's visit to Africa was overshadowed by remarks he made to journalists on the plane there condemning the use of condoms and suggesting they could aggravate the spread of AIDS, although the Vatican subsequently amended his remarks.

On his flight back to Rome the pontiff, who does not normally talk to reporters at the end of a visit, told them he had been impressed by the "almost exuberant warmth of African joy" during his trip.

He said he had been "deeply touched" by the deaths of two young Angolan women killed in a stampede on Saturday and had prayed and "prayed again" for them.

THIS IS A DOUBLE "GADS" STORY!