AFP, Vatican City :
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump cannot claim to be a Christian, Pope Francis said today, after the billionaire vowed to build a border wall to keep out immigrants.
“Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian,” the pontiff told journalists during his return journey from a trip to Mexico in response to a question about Trump’s anti-immigrant stance.
“Vote, don’t vote, I won’t meddle. But I simply say, if he says these things, this man is not a Christian,” he said.
His remarks drew swift condemnation from the outspoken Republican presidential candidate, who described them as “disgraceful”.
Trump has gained in popularity by claiming Mexico is sending criminals and rapists over to the United States, and last week he accused the pope of visiting the border between the two countries at the bidding of the Mexican government.
“Am I an instrument of the Mexican government? I leave that to your judgement, to the people to judge,” Francis said.
Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump cannot claim to be a Christian, Pope Francis said today, after the billionaire vowed to build a border wall to keep out immigrants.
“Anyone, whoever he is, who only wants to build walls and not bridges is not a Christian,” the pontiff told journalists during his return journey from a trip to Mexico in response to a question about Trump’s anti-immigrant stance.
“Vote, don’t vote, I won’t meddle. But I simply say, if he says these things, this man is not a Christian,” he said.
His remarks drew swift condemnation from the outspoken Republican presidential candidate, who described them as “disgraceful”.
Trump has gained in popularity by claiming Mexico is sending criminals and rapists over to the United States, and last week he accused the pope of visiting the border between the two countries at the bidding of the Mexican government.
“Am I an instrument of the Mexican government? I leave that to your judgement, to the people to judge,” Francis said.
