Pope Francis to chew coca leaves on Bolivia visit, says government minister

The use of unprocessed coca leaf is legal in Bolivia and other Andean countries

Pope Francis will experiment with coca leaves, the natural source of cocaine, when he visits Bolivia (AFP/Getty)

Pope Francis will experiment with coca leaves, the natural source of cocaine, when he visits Bolivia in July, said a government minister in the South American country.

Although their use is prohibited in much of the world, including the UK and the US, the Argentine pontiff will join with indigenous people in chewing on the small leaves, which, in addition to giving users a lift, are said to help with muscular pain and altitude sickness.

“We offered [the pope] coca tea or something for the altitude,” Culture Minister Marko Machicao told journalists. The Bolivian capital, La Paz, is 3,650 metres (11,975 ft) above sea level. “He has requested that he wants to chew coca, so we shall be awaiting the Holy Father with the sacred coca leaf,” he said.

The use of unprocessed coca leaf is legal in Bolivia and other Andean countries. A 1995 World Health Organisation report said there were “no negative health effects” from coca use in leaf form, which by weight contains only around 0.5 per cent cocaine. The findings were shelved, however, under pressure from the US.