(ANSA) - Papal Flight, September 28 - Pope Francis told reporters on the papal flight back from the United States that he did not invite Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino to Sunday's World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. "I didn't invite Mayor Marino," the pope said when asked about the fact that Marino said he had been invited to the event by the pontiff. "I asked the organizers and they didn't invite him either... He says he's Catholic. He came of his own accord".
Marino's trip to the United States, a month after he had a vacation in the Caribbean and the U.S., stirred controversy in the capital.
Pope says he didn't invite Rome mayor to Philadelphia
Francis says Marino went to family event of own accord