Pope Francis Backs Down After Calling Donald Trump 'Not Christian'

The Daily Mail
Feb. 19, 2016

The Vatican today executed a speedy climb-down in its feud with Donald Trump - handing the Republican White House hopeful a major political victory.

Pope Francis's suggestion that Trump was 'not Christian' because of his views on immigration was not a personal attack on the candidate, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said on Friday.

Lombardi told Vatican radio that the pope's comments, which were denounced by Trump, were simply an affirmation of his longstanding belief that migrants should be helped and welcomed rather than shut off behind walls.

He also leaned toward confirming Trump's contention that his statement that Trump was 'not a Christian' was based largely on 'what he was told' about the billionaire's position.

Trump said Thursday that he suspected the Mexican government had propagandized to the Pontiff about him, prompting the unusual condemnation from the leader of the world's Roman Catholics.

'This wasn't in any way a personal attack, nor an indication of who to vote for,' Lombardi said.

'The Pope has clearly said he didn't want to get involved in the electoral campaign in the US, and also said that he said what he said on the basis of what he was told [about Trump], hence giving him the benefit of the doubt.'

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