Pope Benedict

The Pope has spoken out over the use of full body scanners at airports

The Pope has spoken out over the use of full body scanners at airports, insisting that human dignity must be preserved.

The equipment has caused controversy because it makes those who pass through it appear naked.

Pope Benedict made his comments in an audience with airport workers at the Vatican.

Although he did not specifically use the words body scanner it was clear what he meant as he said it was 'essential to protect and value the human person'.

He spoke of the terrorist threat to the aviation industry before adding: ' Even in this situation, one must never forget that respecting the primacy of the human person and attention to his or her needs does not make the service less efficient nor penalise economic management.'

There are concerns that the new scanners break discrimination law and breach privacy.

Italian plastic surgeons claim they can reveal if a woman has had breast enhancement surgery.

The use of scanners has been an issue since Christmas Day terrorist Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab tried to blow up a plane with explosives smuggled onboard in his underpants.

Officials say scanners would have prevented the Nigerian boarding the plane. However, critics say the scanners are far from foolproof.

They have been introduced at Heathrow and in Manchester and are due to be phased in at Rome and Milan airports in Italy.