Vatican Secretary of State Pietro
Parolin said Wednesday that he was not aware of hostility
towards Pope Francis among senior members of the Catholic Church
after the Argentine pontiff reportedly joked that some clergymen
would like to see him dead.
Jesuit magazine La Civilta Cattolica on Tuesday quoted the pope
as telling a group of religious during his recent visit to
Slovakia that he was "still alive, even though some people
wanted me dead" when asked about his health following colon
surgery in July.
"There were even meetings between prelates who thought the
pope's condition was more serious than was being said," the pope
added, according to the magazine.
"They were preparing for the conclave".
When asked about the comments, Parolin said that "the pope
probably has information that I don't have.
"I honestly had not sensed this climate.
"Not having evidence to hand, I think perhaps it was a thing
that concerned few people, that a few people had got this thing
in their heads.
"The pope probably made these statements because he has
knowledge that I have not received".
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