The opponents of Pope Francis have indirect links to Vladimir Putin, according to a writer who has been called the Pope’s “favourite journalist”.
Andrea Tornielli made the suggestion in a piece co-written with Giacomo Galeazzi for the Italian newspaper La Stampa, headlined “Catholics who are anti-Francis but love Putin”.
The article quoted sociologist Massimo Introvigne: “It is the mythical idealisation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is presented as a ‘good’ leader in contrast to the ‘bad’ leader, the Pope, because of his stance on homosexual people, Muslims and immigrants. Russian foundations that have strong ties with Putin cooperate with the anti-Francis opposition.”
