Pope shows no mercy as he blasts Rome mayor as a 'pretend Catholic'
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....
Dr. Alan Cairns | 8/3/2009
