Pope shows no mercy as he blasts Rome mayor as a 'pretend Catholic'

[joeybee12]

Rome (AFP) - Pope Francis raised eyebrows in Italy on Tuesday by slapping down the left-leaning mayor of Rome as someone who "pretends to be Catholic".

The unforgiving assessment of Ignazio Marino -- a man the Italian media love to hate -- further heightened tensions between the pope and the mayor in the run-up to the start of the Holy Year of Mercy in December, with the Vatican fearful the Italian capital is ill-prepared for the millions of extra pilgrims.

"He pretends to be Catholic, it came on him all of a sudden. It doesn't happen like that," Francis said.

The pope's cutting comments on the politician -- who observers say rubbed the pontiff up the wrong way with his vocal support of gay marriage and euthanasia -- came as Francis returned from a barnstorming visit to the United States and Cuba.

http://news.yahoo.com/pope-shows-no-mercy-blasts-rome-mayor-pretend-201914363.html

Hmm...didn't Huckabee call Obama a pretend Chrisitan? Apparently wht irks the Pope is the Mayor's support of gay marriage...yup, same Papal dress, still a bigot inhabiting it.

[PeaceNikki]

1. mmm hmm.