LA Times: Bernie Sanders interrupts campaign for trip to Vatican but doesn't meet Pope Francis

[Surya Gayatri]

Bernie Sanders did not get to meet the pope on Friday, but he got to rail against the inequalities of capitalism at a Vatican conference during an unusual, lightning visit to Rome, days before the crucial New York presidential primary.

Although polls show he trails rival Hillary Clinton in New York, which votes Tuesday, the Democratic senator from Vermont interrupted his insurgent campaign to cross the Atlantic to emphasize the same economic critique that has propelled his candidacy all year at home.

As Sanders entered the hall, a note sent by Pope Francis was read out in which the pontiff apologized for his absence, explaining he was preparing to visit the Greek island of Lesbos on Saturday, where he will visit a Syrian refugee camp.

“As you know, I had envisaged coming today, around 7 p.m., to greet the participants of the workshop,” he wrote. “Yesterday I realised that today was going to be very complicated because of my trip to Lesbos."

Sanders denied that he believed his invitation to the Vatican gave his campaign papal backing. Sanders aides have denied the trip was aimed at appealing to Catholic voters in New York.



It is possible the pope decided against meeting Sanders to avoid another plunge into the uncharted waters of this year's U.S. presidential campaign.

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-vatican-sanders-20160415-story.html

_______________________________

Il Papa snubbed his duplicitous butt.

Sorry Bernie. Your campaign's appropriation of Francis' photo and pronouncements is a fraud, not to mention in extremely dubious taste.

[Vinca]

1. Yes, we know. There have been about 20 other posts, but thanks for your concern.

[NurseJackie]

2. When I heard that, it had me like...

[berniepdx420]

4. you know it was a Conference on Income Inequality ?? kinda important

[NuclearDem]

11. No, it was a conference about the 25th anniversary of the Centesimus Annus.

A document that Bernie Sanders apparently didn't read--not only did he falsely attribute its authorship to Pope Francis, but he also made no mention of the fact that it was written in very stark condemnation of the socialist regimes he praised throughout the Cold War.

[berniepdx420]

17. wow.. super smear merchant here... "socialist regimes he praised throughout the Cold War" care

to clarify who the "he" is

the conference is on Social & Economic justice...

[NuclearDem]

21. And here I thought a Sanders supporter would have known basic facts about his own candidate.

He traveled to Nicaragua after the Sandinista revolution and endorsed its government, praised Castro's government, and traveled to the USSR.

Here, maybe you'd like to actually read the document the conference was about. Your candidate sure couldn't be bothered:

http://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_01051991_centesimus-annus.html

[berniepdx420]

25. I see why you named yourself Nuclear... so why don't you elaborate a bit instead of alluding...

show that he endorsed the Sandinista government and the reasons why you think this is so horrible... 2nd please provide the praise he gave to Castro... and finally please please show why traveling to the USSR is offensive... shall we start naming all the politicians that did so as well.

you are clearly confusing socialism for communism.. please reread the link you sent me.. it clearly states the conference is about Social and Economic justice

your diatribe is so filled with falsehoods it's overwhelming... hence why you call yourself "Nuclear"

[MaeScott]

47. Shark jumped by paper. Film at 11. nt

[TheCowsCameHome]

12. Is that really you?

[GeorgeGist]

28. Get help.

[NurseJackie]

30. Ha! :-D ... and ...

[berni_mccoy]

32. And now you're like

[berniepdx420]

3. Yes we also know the MSM will take any chance it has to marginalize Bernie's campaign.. we know

[Avalux]

5. Bernie was not snubbed.

You should be ashamed for saying such things. Horrible the language used to smear Bernie for trying to make a difference.

You'll get what's coming to you all in good time.

[beam me up scottie]

6. Aww, still smarting from the invite? There's an app for that:

[SidDithers]

7. There's always photoshop...nt

Sid

[DemocratSinceBirth]

8. Regardless of how you feel about this candidate os that candidate...

Regardless of how you feel about this candidate or that candidate the Pope is not going to interject himself into a political campaign.

[DesertRat]

9. It looks like Sanders is claiming the endorsement of the Pope

Plastering his logo on a picture of the Pope? It's dishonest and offensive.

[upaloopa]

10. I would like to know when that Bernie / Pope campaign poster was made

My guess is that this was a planned campaign stunt and it fizzled out
That poster was made as part of the stunt. Bernie was supposed to be mono a mono with the Pope but got stiffed.


No Saint Bernard of Brooklyn

[Surya Gayatri]

15. His Holiness wouldn't touch the Bern with a barge pole.

Francis probably had his staff out scouting Saint Bern's movements around Rome, just to ensure that there would be no unplanned, accidental encounter between them.

[tonedevil]

34. Ahem...

Look here.

[beam me up scottie]

41. Awwww

[SunSeeker]

13. Never mind the Pope, did he get that minor's parents' permission to use him in a campaign ad?

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Waiting for the lawsuit...

[Sky Masterson]

18. Did Hillary get invited to Rome?

Never mind, Bernie doesn't get to chill with the Clooneys so his whole week was a fail.

[BlueMTexpat]

19. It is interesting that

so many people do not seem to realize that the Pope = ESTABLISHMENT PAR EXCELLENCE.

The institution he heads is historically and notoriously bad w/r/t women's and LGBT rights, and also on covering up sexual abuse.

The Clooneys - not so much of any of that.

[Sky Masterson]

26. No. That isn't what is interesting.

What is interesting is her Iraq War vote.
What is interesting is that for every instance of her on the wrong side of history you can find one of Bernie on the right side of it.
So,
Going to a fundraiser is cool.
Going to the Vatican to speak about our immoral economy and looking out for the little guy is a travesty.
Do you people actually believe that you can muddy the water enough on this event to somehow make it Benefit the Queen of Increments?
If so, I would suggest another hobby because this is Alex Jones territory.

[TheCowsCameHome]

23. No, Bill was the Roamer.

[spyker29]

20. Touched a nerve

On Fri Apr 15, 2016, 05:42 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

LA Times: Bernie Sanders interrupts campaign for trip to Vatican but doesn't meet Pope Francis
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511746240

REASON FOR ALERT

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

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This post is over the top and in extremely dubious taste!

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Fri Apr 15, 2016, 05:50 PM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Meh. It's the same stupid GD-P bullshit mud slinging.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I don't agree with all the comments in the post, but don't see it as something that needs to be hidden.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: ALMOST EVERY POST IN THE PRIMARY IS FROM BERNIE'S PEOPLE BASHING HILLARY - IF YOUR GONNA DISH IT OUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE IT
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: The poster attributes motives to the pope's actions, something which cannot be done.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Bernie supporters should really just stay in their safe haven. Facts seem to upset them.

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

Cannot reply to automated messages

Alert abuse Delete this DU Mail


«

[Surya Gayatri]

22. Wouldn't be the first time...LOL! Touchy, touchy.

Thanks for the heads up, spyker!

Welcome to DU.

[cherokeeprogressive]

24. I thank the Holy See my jury privileges were revoked.

[riderinthestorm]

31. Actually Bernie did have a private meeting with the Pope.

ROME — U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders says he met privately with Pope Francis during his overnight trip here, his spokesman said. 

The meeting took place at the papal residence early Saturday, according Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs. 

A Vatican source said the meeting was not a chance encounter and had been planned. 

The Sanders campaign had been vague about the senator's itinerary here following his address Friday to a Vatican conference. Francis left Rome later Saturday for Greece, where he is visiting migrants stuck on the island of Lesbos. The reticence about a Sanders meeting may be an attempt to avoid the perception that Francis is endorsing Sanders or otherwise involving himself in American politics. 

Sanders was invited to address a Vatican seminar on income inequality and economic justice, and took an unusual break from the Democratic primary campaign trail to attend. He had said in a Washington Post interview last week that he admired Francis and hoped to meet him, but that nothing was set. 

Sanders quotes Francis frequently in his address to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and told reporters afterward that the pope has had enormous influence in airing issues of wealth disparity and climate change. 


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/16/italian-media-sanders-met-privately-with-pope-francis/

[uponit7771]

40. "...A Vatican source.." Really?! Anything from Sanders himself? tia

[beam me up scottie]

42. Awww, Bernie met with the pope and someone has a sad...

[uponit7771]

45. What's sad is "A Vatican source"... like Sanders camp hasn't lied about these things in the past

[beam me up scottie]

48. This came from the Vatican itself, you calling them liars too?

Look I'm sure crow tastes awful but try to eat it when it's warm, I heard it's much worse when cold.

[uponit7771]

49. Nope, just not taking their word for it

[beam me up scottie]

51. LMAO! Your not taking the Vatican's word for it is called:

[uponit7771]

52. Vatican wrote the article? BMUS... stay on task k?

[beam me up scottie]

54. They confirmed it as did PASS. CNN, NBC, ABC, etc reported it - reading is fundamental!

You're welcome, let me know if you need any more assistance!

[riderinthestorm]

43. Only 80 bazillion posts with The View video accusing Bernie of lying @ meeting the Pope

You really think Bernie could get away with a lie about meeting Pope Francis? The Vatican PR team would slap that shit down in seconds.

But do try to spin that meme all day here. Really. Go ahead and try that.

[uponit7771]

46. His camp tried to get away with the lie about endorsements, why not try the Pope?

[beam me up scottie]

55. PASS tweeted about it, thinking Bernie made them all lie is bordering on delusional.

[CharlotteVale]

33. Premature spin clean up on aisle 12!

[beam me up scottie]

35. "Il Papa snubbed his duplicitous butt" eh? How would you like your eggs?

[Marrah_G]

36. oops!

Bet you feel a little silly now, eh?

[Cha]

37. This isn't the first time BS has tried to co-opt endorsements..

Zeke Miller
✔ ‎‎@ZekeJMiller
Bernie walking a fine line on sort of claiming the endorsement of the Pope https://www.facebook.com/berniesanders/photos/a.324119347643076.89553.124955570892789/1029290747125929/?type=3&theater …
5:03 AM - 15 Apr 2016
61 61 Retweets 45 45 likes

AlGiordano ‎‎@AlGiordano
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, this is one inept campaign! https://twitter.com/ZekeJMiller/status/720991032523894784 …
meta ‎‎@metaquest
@AlGiordano Putting his logo on an image of the Pope? Seriously, what is wrong with this guy?
5:16 AM - 15 Apr 2016
5 5 Retweets 6 6 likes

https://theobamadiary.com/2016/04/15/president-obama-on-the-benefits-of-precision-medicine/#comments

Mahalo, Surya~

[nc4bo]

38. Ummmm they share nearly same worldview. I'm sorry it annoys certain people.

[Cha]

39. KICK!

[FlatBaroque]

44. Will you give yourself a little DU timeout?

Get up early and go looking for the pile of poo to fling. Classy folks, you are.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/04/16/italian-media-sanders-met-privately-with-pope-francis/

[randome]

50. Is it 'flinging poo' to go by what the Pope himself said: that he wouldn't be there?

Obviously he changed his mind but how is that the fault of the OP? Both sides are making too much of this, that's for sure.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[riderinthestorm]

53. That the Pope wasn't leaving til the 16th was known here for many days

Only those who wanted to be willfully blind clung to that.

[randome]

57. So you're saying you knew all along that Sanders would meet with the Pope?

Please. With the Pope saying he would be unable to attend because of his London trip, it was a fair conclusion to make that Sanders would not meet with the Pope. Clearly that conclusion was wrong but it was a fair one to make, imo. And for the record, I, myself, would not have drawn any conclusions from that, it's a ridiculous point on which to base a post. Still...
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[riderinthestorm]

59. I made no prediction either way but when he changed his departure for Greece I suspected

Go ahead and search my post history.

That the Pope was leaving the 16th was common knowledge here except amongst the willfully blind.

[BigBearJohn]

56. Uh, you were saying?

[rjsquirrel]

58. Pope schmope

Jerry Falwell or Pope Francis it's all the same bullshit to me.

Man of god living in a palace.

[islandmkl]

60. you apparently had a premature retractulation...

try to not make a mess of your clothing...

[polly7]

61. Bon Appétit !