http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-33515852/

BBC


Latin America & Caribbean
Pope Francis 'did not chew coca in Bolivia'

13 July 2015
From the section Latin America & Caribbean
Pope Francis during interview on his return flight from Asuncion
Pope Francis gave a good-humoured interview during his return flight from Paraguay
Pope Francis has said he did not chew coca during his recent trip to Bolivia.
The Bolivian authorities earlier said the pontiff had requested to chew coca to help him cope with the effects of the high altitude in La Paz.
The Pope made the remark when questioned by a journalist as to the secret of his energy during his South American tour, which ended yesterday.
Pope Francis said that mate, the traditional tea popular in his native Argentina, helped to keep him going.
"You wanted to ask me what is my drug of choice? Well, mate helps me. But I haven't tried coca, I want to make that clear," said the Pope during the flight from the Paraguayan capital, Asuncion, to Rome.

Lung removed
Coca leaves, which are the raw ingredient for cocaine, are used legally for medical and religious purposes in Bolivia.
The leaves are chewed or brewed in teas and work as a mild stimulant, helping also to alleviate nausea caused by high altitudes.
Bolivia's left-wing President Evo Morales began his political life as the leader of the cocaleros, traditional coca leaf producers.
The pontiff, who had part of a lung removed when he was young, only stayed in the La Paz area - which lies 3,650m (12,000ft) above sea level - for about four hours.
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Chewing of coca leaves is a centuries-old tradition in the Andes
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The Pope only spent about four hours in the high altitude of the Bolivian Andes
The pontiff returned to Rome this morning after an eight-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay, some of Latin America's poorest countries.
Pope Francis addressed inequality, poverty and indigenous rights during his South American tour.

people need for the Pope to tell them that?

Next he will be telling people not to eat the yellow snow