Pope Francis Criticized for Calling Priest Sex Abuse Protesters "Dumb"

By Liz Fields
VICE News
October 8, 2015

https://news.vice.com/article/peace-prize-contender-pope-francis-criticized-for-calling-priest-sex-abuse-protesters-dumb

On the eve the Nobel Peace Prize announcement, for which Pope Francis is widely believed to be a top contender, the pontiff was recorded calling Chilean protesters "dumb" for rallying against the bishop of Osorno, Chile, who has been linked to one of the country's most notorious clerical child molesters.

"The Osorno community is suffering because it's dumb," Pope Francis told visitors to Vatican City in St. Peter's Square, according to one translation by the New York Times. It "has let its head be filled with what politicians say, judging a bishop without any proof."

"Don't be led by the nose by the leftists who orchestrated all of this," he added.

The "leftists" are presumed to be socialist members of Chile's Congress, who have signed a petition opposing Barros's appointment as bishop.

On the eve the Nobel Peace Prize announcement, for which Pope Francis is widely believed to be a top contender, the pontiff was recorded calling Chilean protesters "dumb" for rallying against the bishop of Osorno, Chile, who has been linked to one of the country's most notorious clerical child molesters.

"The Osorno community is suffering because it's dumb," Pope Francis told visitors to Vatican City in St. Peter's Square, according to one translation by the New York Times. It "has let its head be filled with what politicians say, judging a bishop without any proof."

"Don't be led by the nose by the leftists who orchestrated all of this," he added.

The "leftists" are presumed to be socialist members of Chile's Congress, who have signed a petition opposing Barros's appointment as bishop.