HRC Group: The reluctant star of the drama (il papa) weighs in:

[Princess Turandot]

He ought to get the last word:

On the Vermont senator, Francis said he greeted Sanders on Saturday morning as he was leaving the Santa Marta, the hotel within Vatican grounds where the pope lives. Sanders was staying at the same residence, because that’s where all participants in the Vatican conference he attended on Friday were spending the night. The only exceptions were Presidents Evo Morales of Bolivia and Rafael Correa of Ecuador, who stayed at their country’s embassy in Rome.

“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” Francis said. “He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me.”

“When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.

“If someone thinks that greeting someone is getting involved in politics,” he said, “I recommend that they find a psychiatrist.”

Edited to add: On the flight back from Lesbos, Francis had his usual conversation with reporters as is typical at the end of one of his trips. He was asked about the subject.

http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/04/16/pope-francis-calls-sanders-greeting-only-common-courtesy/

[itsrobert]

1. Wow. Is this legit?

?

[Princess Turandot]

16. Crux is a independent Catholic periodical...

the byline says the reporter was reporting from plane. I saw it first on a tweet by Professor Massimo Fagioli. (https://twitter.com/MassimoFaggioli/status/721368417190608896) Since he writes for Commonweal, a well respected liberal American Catholic publication, I assume that it is legit.

[Her Sister]

2. OMG!!!

Speech- less...

Is this real?

[NurseJackie]

7. Found this ... it looks like a legit site to me. Not a parody or faux-news site like the Onion

http://www.cruxnow.com/about/

Welcome to Crux! We’re an independent Catholic news site, operated in partnership with the Knights of Columbus.

We hope you’ll find the site lively, engaging, topical, and thoughtful.

Crux strives to cover the worldwide institution of the Catholic Church, from the papacy to the hierarchy to local dioceses. We’ll explore the theology, doctrine, liturgy, practices, and traditions of Catholicism in the context of the life of modern-day Catholics, giving full voice to disagreements and challenges facing the Church and Catholics.

We’re committed to balance and fairness, striving to build a “Catholic commons” in which believers of different outlooks, backgrounds, and experiences can come together to build friendships and exchange views.

Finally, we hope you’ll join in to help us build an engaged community of Catholics and non-Catholics alike who come here to comment on current events and discuss social, theological, ethical, and spiritual issues.

[Her Sister]

9. Cannot wait for the internets to find out

wow just wow!!! FAIL!

[NurseJackie]

3. "When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,"

“When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.

AND NOTHING MORE!

And there you have it... Oh-kaaaay!

[Cha]

14. And, what was that bernie was saying about "5 minutes"? And, I said 2 minutes

or LESS because the Pope is a busy man."!

Whoa.. stalk much.. desperate much

[NurseJackie]

25. Actually, I kinda hope there ARE photos. Photos have TIMESTAMPS ...

... and we can see exactly how much time passed between the approach, the handshake, the grins, and the goodbyes.

This wasn't a "private meeting" (wording that intentionally implies a "private audience" with the Pontiff)

What nonsense. It was even less formal than a candidate shaking hands and touching fingertips with supporters on the other side of a security fence at a campaign event.

A big ol' NOTHINGBURGER!

[SecularMotion]

59. “He knew I was coming out at that time"

“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” Francis said. “He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me.”

It was an ambush.

[KewlKat]

67. That statement is what stood out for me............he was given a heads up and he waited

for the Pope to exit. It was a "fan" waiting to acknowledge his celebrity.

I really don't begrudge BS doing that. What I have issues with is that "campaign" funds were expended for this whole thing. I don't understand how the FEC would allow that. Then there is the jet fuel consumption, the carbon footprint after saying the night before how engaged he was on climate change.

A plane that holds what 300, used to fly less than 50 at an unknown cost at the moment anyway until the next reporting cycle I bet............waste and abuse. I would have admired him if he had paid for this himself but at over $300K I doubt that is affordable for many.

Maybe this will come back to bite him in the unmentionable? All those $27 dollar donations............

[workinclasszero]

23. Wow...big meeting!

[NurseJackie]

31. I know, RIGHT!!

I first read that, and it had me like...

[BlueMTexpat]

37. Love that gif!

I love "Suzanne!"

[KittyWampus]

42. Sanders shakes Pope's hand= Meeting. Well, yeah. Ya got me. LOLZ

[DemonGoddess]

4. I knew it

he Kim Davis'd the Pope.

[KittyWampus]

43. Kim Davis got a photo though, so Sanders campaign is a FAIL.

[livetohike]

5. #PopeStalkingGate n/t

[workinclasszero]

35. hahahahahahahaha

#stopstalkingthepopebernie

[livetohike]

39. I like your # better!

[workinclasszero]

45. LOL

You can't make up stuff this funny no?

A person running for president stalking the pope in Rome for an ambush interview/photo op! Good job Tad??

The crazy train is hurtling off the tracks at breakneck speed!

[livetohike]

47. Yep. Wonder what the next stunt will be? Tightrope walking in NYC

with Nik Wallenda?

[workinclasszero]

50. HAHA

Axelrod says Bernie will meet with the Dali Lama!

David Axelrod: Rumor has it Sanders will meet Dalai Lama right before PA/MD/CT/RI primary

https://twitter.com/davidaxelrod/status/721371788484210688

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511753277

[KittyWampus]

52. and he didn't get an interview OR a photo. LOLZ

[workinclasszero]

54. Yep...total fail

as usual!

[Haveadream]

36. That's what I thought!

Bernie is the #PopeStalker! Poor Francis. Being wedged into Bernie's campaign whether he likes it or not. Talk about using someone for the optics. It is very creepy and exploitative.

[livetohike]

41. It is creepy. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.

[pandr32]

6. A greeting and a handshake are hardly a 5-minute meeting

The Sanders campaign spin on this whole trip is breathtaking. Someone should look into just how Sanders (unlikely to ever be the Democrat nominee, and unaccomplished Senator) managed to get penciled into the bathroom/coffee break slot at the conference in the first place.

[Her Sister]

15. I cannot wait for the movie on the 2016 election!!

and how we elected Prez 45 HRC!

Am sure this Papal-Gate will be in that movie!

[pandr32]

44. Agreed!

I can't wait for the story behind the story of Bernie. Everything changed for him after that first data breach, and his campaign tone completely changed.

[MattP]

8. how very stalker of you

[Cha]

10. Aha! I knew it! I knew the Pope wouldn't want to get into involved in this whole BS scheme.

“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” Francis said. “He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me.”

“When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.

“If someone thinks that greeting someone is getting involved in politics,” he said, “I recommend that they find a psychiatrist.”

Good find, Turandot, Mahalo!

[BlueMTexpat]

11. Sounds as if he was waylaid ...

and had no choice but to shake Bernie's hand or it would have been rude. His message to the group yesterday should have made things crystal clear, especially when he had to forego seeing his fellow South Americans in order to avoid seeing Bernie.

Such shameful pandering on the Sanders campaign's part! In this way, as in his campaign's high-handed tactics in attempting to thwart the voters' choices in NV and MO, he seems to believe that ordinary rules of diplomatic protocol do not apply to him as they would to the rest of us proles.

[Surya Gayatri]

30. You said it...

"...he seems to believe that ordinary rules of diplomatic protocol do not apply to him as they would to the rest of us proles."

[Treant]

12. If you're surprised by this, raise your hand.

DK and here seem to be going nuts about the "meeting" between the two.

Is the bus capable of handling not only the Pope, but also his wardrobe?

[Cha]

17. I'm just glad the Pope "talked" to the reporters... otherwise we'd

NEVER know the truth.

"5 minutes"?!!! ".. handshake.. NOTHING MORE"!!

[Treant]

22. I doubt Francis

likes being used as a political pawn since he's also the head of a government himself.

I have a feeling that this little stunt, between the lousy optics, the lie about the meeting, and the Pope's fairly icy rejoinder just cost Sanders 1 point in NY, PA, and NJ.

Gee, that's too bad.

[Cha]

32. That's what I said before we heard BS "met with him for 5 minutes"..

I could not understand it.. it didn't compute and now I know why!

I hope it costs him more than using all that money from the donors' campaign funds for the chartered plane ride.. he needs to learn a lesson here. It's called Karma bern.

[Iliyah]

76. A secret meeting for five mintues wherein they talked about . . .

Per BS campaign, but it was OK for them to announce to the world about the "secret" meeting tho. hint hint, wink wink.

[Cha]

78. They lied and now the truth is coming out, Iliyah

AlGiordano ‎‎@AlGiordano
Full context of the Pope's quotes on the plane about his brief encounter with Sanders:http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/04/16/pope-francis-calls-sanders-greeting-only-common-courtesy/ …
6:14 AM - 16 Apr 2016
542 542 Retweets 506 506 likes

https://theobamadiary.com/2016/04/16/west-wing-week-21/#comments

[Rose Siding]

13. LOL I love this pope

“I recommend that they find a psychiatrist.”

[Cha]

19. LOL.. Love him, too! Put a damper on that one! And, exposed BS for more

Pinocchios.

[MattP]

18. sort of like

[Cha]

20. LOL

omg.. omg.. damn..

[Princess Turandot]

21. LOL! nt

[Surya Gayatri]

33. It's ALL a matter of perspective! LOLOL!

[BlueCaliDem]

46. ROFL! eom

[IamMab]

24. I hope you don't mind, I cross-posted that link on GDP because I didn't see it there yet. nt

[Princess Turandot]

27. Not at all. (I don't go into GDP usually) nt

[MattP]

29. cool

[Surya Gayatri]

34. Give us the link so we can rec it up over there...please!

[Cha]

38. I was hoping someone would.. I'll look for that!

Mahalo IamMab

[Surya Gayatri]

26. Hats off for your investigative skills, Princess.

I just KNEW some diplomatic denial like this would be coming.

Francis is NO dupe, and after being used as a political pawn during his US visit, no way would he allow the deceptive Sanders implication of a "meeting" to go unanswered.

“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” Francis said. “He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me.”

“When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.

Wow, just wow.

Can the optics get any more laughable for the Vermont court jester?

[Tanuki]

28. This is a terrific confirmation of what most of us suspected!

Thanks, Princes Turandot!

[Cha]

49. Isn't it.. What an interesting turn of events! Thank you Pope Frances and reporters on the plane!

[Haveadream]

40. Stalker at the Vatican! Poor Francis!

[Her Sister]

48. It's making it to the internets!!! Al Giordano's twitter

https://twitter.com/algiordano/status/721371163335610369

Full context of the Pope's quotes on the plane about his brief encounter with Sanders:
http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2016/04/16/pope-francis-calls-sanders-greeting-only-common-courtesy/ …

:large



Can this Roman Saga get more ridiculous!!!

[Hoyt]

51. Sanders was hanging around the door, hoping for the Pope to walk by? How embarrassing.

[LiberalFighter]

53. Who told Bernie that the Pope would be there?

[Princess Turandot]

55. Francis lives in the hotel where Sanders was waiting for him...

It's a small hotel inside Vatican City, where visitors to the Vatican can stay. He decided not to live in the papal apartment, I think because he wanted to be around people.

[LiberalFighter]

60. That still doesn't explain how Sanders knew he was coming down at that time

and was waiting for him.

[Surya Gayatri]

62. Pope Francis' travel plans and his departure for Greece were well-publicized.

Simple operation to hang out in the lobby and way-lay His Eminence on his way through. Which, according to the Pope's own account, is exactly how things transpired.

Story of a stalking:

“This morning as I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” Francis said. “He knew I was coming out at that time, and he had the kindness to greet me.”

“When I came down, he introduced himself, I greeted him with a handshake, and nothing more,” the pope added. “It’s common courtesy, this is called common courtesy.

[Iliyah]

77. Yeah but now the supporters of the other guy are saying that the Pope is backpeddling

in other words . . . not telling the truth. Seriously.

[Princess Turandot]

70. His detail schedule is posted days in advance on one of the Vatican web sites...

and it does include references to when he is leaving Vatican City for a trip. (Many of the events are streamed live on YouTube etc.) But between Jeffrey Sachs and the PASS bishop, they could have just asked someone on his staff when he was leaving for the airport.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

56. Fair warning

I was on a jury that hid a similar post in GDP 4-3. I'm juror #5.


Pope says Bernie Bros need psychiatrists ...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511753389

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Joking about mental illness is not funny, using it to smear other members is illiberal and adds to the stigma of those suffering from mental illness.

JURY RESULTS

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Apr 16, 2016, 10:16 AM, and the Jury voted 4-3 to HIDE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Stalking is a serious problem, and to use it to try to make some grade-school political points is worthy of a hide.
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Hiding not because of alerter's comments (the Pope made the first reference) but because the spin is so strong the whirlwind makes me sick.
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: He's quoting a linked to article. Not sure if that's the Pope's real words or not. Doesn't appear to be a satire site.

If these were the poster's own words I might see a hide justified but not in this case. How about rebutting the article instead?
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I am really getting tired of people abusing the Alerts because they don't agree with what is said. The poster was quoting the Pope and not attacking anyone in particular.

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[Tarheel_Dem]

57. Wow. This really is the creepy Kim Davis saga all over again. How pathetic. n/t

[DemonGoddess]

58. Here's another blog for ya

[link:https://rootedcosmopolitan.wordpress.com/2016/04/16/groupie-loitering-in-hotel-lobby-succeeds-in-meeting-celebrity/|

[Cha]

63. Sachs again.. Lied.

Was it something done intentionally by the Pope’s personal staff or the Secretariat of State? Possibly, but unlikely. Look where it happened:

Sachs said Sanders and his wife Jane met the pope in the foyer of the domus as the pope was leaving for Greece. The meeting lasted for about five minutes, Sachs said.

you gonna call the Pope a "liar", Sachs?

Thank you, DemonGoddess!

[Cha]

65. Furthermore.. !

If in fact Sanders hung out in the lobby waiting to stop the pope on his way to Greece, it was incredibly self-absorbed and an obnoxious distraction for the pope, who was surely much more focused on addressing a profound crisis (with what turned out to be a dramatic and powerful act). Furthermore, if Sanders waited around to pounce on the pope as he was trying to leave for Greece, is that a dignified way for a presidential candidate to behave? Is this the conduct and judgment of someone who aspires to be the commander in chief of our armed forces and the diplomatic and political leader of the most powerful country on Earth?

[ronnykmarshall]

61. THE POPE IS AN HRC PLANT!!!

He set poor Bernie up after a telegram from Hillary!!!!!!!!!

I SEEN IT!

[justhanginon]

64. Stage Door Bernie. Did he bring flowers?

[MBS]

66. See also this:

http://ncronline.org/news/francis-meeting-bernie-sanders-not-political-just-quick-greeting
(more at http://upload.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1107&pid=103756)

[Her Sister]

68. Bernie’s Bad Week Continues: Pope Francis Denies Holding Meeting With Sanders

http://www.politicususa.com/2016/04/16/bernies-bad-week-continues-pope-francis-denies-holding-meeting-sanders.html

The pope’s description of the interaction greatly differs from the one reported by Politico, which should be noted was provided by a Sanders adviser. It is likely that there was no meeting between Sanders and Pope Francis. It is probably that a Sanders adviser was trying to put a happy face on a brief unplanned interaction between the two men.

Pope Francis makes it sound like Bernie Sanders made the trip over to greet him before he left, which is the opposite of what the Politico story claimed was that Francis invited Sanders to meet with him on Friday.

The Sanders campaign has had a bad week. They are trailing by double digits in the New York primary. Sanders did not deliver the primary changing moment that he needed at the Democratic debate in Brooklyn. One of the campaign’s surrogates came under fire for referring to Democratic corporate whores at a Sanders rally, and now, the Pope denies the Sanders campaign’s version of the meeting with the Democratic candidate.

It has been a bad week for the Sanders campaign that could not have come at a worse time. Whether or not Sanders met with the pope probably won’t matter to the results in New York, but this was pretty much last thing that the Sanders campaign needed right now.

[fleabiscuit]

69. Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me...

Me, me, is the kind of bullcrap that happens when you are completely unaware what happens outside your own created bubble.

Freaking shameful and frankly embarrassing.

“…The parties involved have underestimated the sensitiveness of relations between the Holy See and the United States, and, with the papacy of Francis, at a particularly delicate moment (I have to refer here to my book on Francis, and the final chapter in particular). The reception to Pope Francis in the United States is more problematic than anywhere else, given some of the political-theological alignments in U.S. Catholicism. Whether or not Sanders goes through with the trip, and whether or not he would have met with the pope, the episode certainly does not make things easier for Francis.”

https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/what-does-sanders-invitation-say-about-vatican-and-sanders

[bellicosecello]

71. Hopefully for Sen. Sanders' sake ...

This story will die quickly. His Holiness does indeed make it sound as if Sen. Sanders was just a gadfly to whom he had to be polite and had posted himself in a way that would require the Pope to acknowledge him. This does Sen. Sanders absolutely no favors.

[Lisa0825]

72. GDP: What the Pope Really Said...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511754829

rec it!

[Cha]

73. I see the media is taking BS' word over the Pope's.. big mistake.

[DemonGoddess]

74. Last time they did this, it blew up on them then as well

remember Kim Davis? Do they honestly think Pope Francis is going to be happy about being played by an American politician for personal gain, yet again?

[DarthDem]

75. Under the PopeMobile!!!

Well, I, I, I, I have just discovered that Pope Francis is a tool of Wasserman Schultz and Wall Street!!!

-Typical Bernista (I assume)



Starting to wonder if the good senator is playing with a deck a bit shy of full. Unreal.