Anti-immigrant Northern
League leader Matteo Salvini poured scorn on an appeal by Pope
Francis for people to welcome migrants, saying he hoped the
pontiff felt the same way about helping destitute Italians.
"I don't want to polemicise with the Holy Father," snorted
the raucous politician, speaking to Radio Padania.
"But who knows if his appeal to welcome immigrants in the
parishes is valid also to shake the consciences of
right-thinking goody goodies over the thousands of Italians in
difficulty who sleep in their cars," said Salvini.
"And then of course the Church gets its cash largely in
Italy from the 8 per 1000," Salvini said, referring to the
system whereby Italians can devolve part of their income tax
payments to the Catholic Church.
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