THE Catholic Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, made use of one of the holiest days in the Christian calender yesterday to support the Pope's controversial claim that condoms worsen the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The Catholic Archbishop of Sydney said on morning television yesterday that condoms "encourage promiscuity" and were not the solution to the AIDS epidemic.

"The idea that you can solve a great spiritual and health crisis like AIDS with a few mechanical contraptions like condoms is ridiculous," he said on Sky News.

The cardinal said the different rates of AIDS in Catholic and non-Catholic countries in Asia showed why spirituality, not condoms, was needed.

"If you look at the Philippines you'll see the incidence of AIDS is much lower than it is in Thailand, which is awash with condoms. There are condoms everywhere and the rate of infection is enormous."