Pope Francis said that US Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump is not Christian given his views on immigration.
In conversation with media on his flight back from a visit to Mexico, Pope Francis was asked about Trump’s some of recent statements, such as pledging to build a wall between the United States and Mexico.
“A person who thinks only about building walls, wherever they may be, and not building bridges, is not Christian. This is not in the gospel,” said Pope in answer to a question about Trump’s views.
“I am not going to get involved in that. I say only that this man is not Christian if he has said things like that. We must see if he said things in that way and in this I give the benefit of the doubt,” said Pope when asked if American Catholics should vote for Trump.
Trump immediately fired back and called Pope Francis’ comments “disgraceful”. He said in statement, “No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith. If and when the Vatican is attacked by IS, which as everyone knows is IS’ ultimate trophy, I can promise you that the Pope would have only wished and prayed that Donald Trump would have been president.”