Pope calls U.S. conservative attacks an ‘honor’

By Philip Pullella - September 4, 2019

ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE (Reuters) – Pope Francis said on Wednesday it was an “honor” to be attacked by U.S. Church conservatives and their Catholic media allies, who have criticized him on issues from theology to climate change and even called for his resignation.

The pope’s response to his American critics came on a flight to Mozambique, for a three-nation tour of sub-Saharan Africa, while chatting with French journalist Nicholas Seneze, author of a new book 

“How America Wants to Change Popes.”

In it, Seneze describes a network of conservative commentators, political operatives, theologians and churchmen who have sniped at Francis, often through well-funded Catholic news outlets and foundations.

“It’s an honor that the Americans attack me,” the pontiff said when asked about this by Seneze.
The pope said he had not yet read the book as aides could not find it, but implied he had heard about it in Italian newspapers.

After Francis left the journalists’ section of the plane, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni returned to issue a statement attempting to clarify his remarks.

“The pope was speaking in an informal context in which he wanted to say that he always considers criticism an honor, particularly when it comes from authoritative thinkers, in this case, those in an important nation,” he said.