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Pope Benedict ‘doing absolute best to sabotage Francis’ amid gay marriage-Antichrist row

POPE BENEDICT has been accused of "doing his absolute best to sabotage Francis" after his shocking comments linking gay marriage to the Antichrist were exposed in a bombshell new book.

PUBLISHED: 00:02, Wed, May 6, 2020 | UPDATED: 00:06, Wed, May 6, 2020

Pope Francis appears in BBC documentary ‘Priest School’

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The former pope, who stood down in a controversial move in 2013, claimed that people who oppose homosexual unions in today’s world are “excommunicated from society”. He said that it was “the same thing with abortion and creating human life in the laboratory”, adding that it was natural for those who oppose it to be concerned about the “spiritual power of the Antichrist”. The comments were taken from an authorised biography of the ex-head of the Vatican, called ‘Benedict XVI – A Life’.

However, the remarks have sparked fury among Vatican observers, who say this is the latest in a long line of passages used as an attempt to curb Pope Francis’ liberal agenda.

Lynda Telford, author of ‘Women of the Vatican – Female Power in a Male World’, told Express.co.uk how she “pitied Francis deeply” after Benedict’s words came to light this week.

She said: “Benedict’s doing his absolute best to sabotage all the reforms that Francis is trying to bring in.

“Divorce reforms (so divorced people can take Sacrament), reaching out to LGBT people, contraception, the lot.”

Pope Benedict ‘doing absolute best to sabotage Francis’ amid gay marriage-Antichrist row (Image: GETTY)

Pope Francis: The remarks have sparked fury among Vatican observers (Image: GETTY)

Ms Telford added: “Benedict has no right to interfere.

“Putting him under the same roof as Francis, so he's never free of him, is appalling.”

The alleged dispute between Francis and Benedict emerged after the latter stood down as head of the Catholic church seven years ago.

It was the first time since the 1400s a living pope had stood down, but paved the way for Francis to take over.

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Vatican news: Pope Benedict stood down in 2013 (Image: GETTY)

But as Francis embarked on a journey to revitalise the Vatican and draw new worshippers to the church, some experts have said that Benedict is still attempting to use his power to ensure his traditional principles remain.

In the newly published book, Benedict attempted to smooth these allegations by saying his friendship with Francis had “not only endured but grown”.

His comments on gay marriage and abortion, however, left many feeling like an attack on the liberalism Francis is trying to install.

Benedict wrote in the German book: “A century ago, anyone would have thought it absurd to talk about homosexual marriage.

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Pope Francis: Vatican chief has been praised for his influence on church (Image: GETTY)

papa francisco tiene el corona virus segun el Express de Londres

Pope health fears: Pope Francis cancels Rome Mass due to illness as coronavirus hits Italy

POPE FRANCIS has cancelled a planned Mass with Rome clergy to a "slight" illness.

By EMILY FERGUSON

PUBLISHED: 11:25, Thu, Feb 27, 2020 | UPDATED: 16:22, Thu, Feb 27, 2020

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The Pope was due to go to the Basilica of St. John's in Lateran this morning for a Lenten service with Roman priests but did not attend because he had a "slight indisposition". Spokesman Matteo Bruni said: "Because of a slight indisposition, he preferred to stay inside Santa Marta. All other commitments will go ahead regularly."

The nature of the Pope's illness has not been disclosed, but he was seen coughing and blowing his nose during yesterday's Ash Wednesday Mass.

He had been scheduled to go to the St John Lateran basilica to meet with Rome clergy and celebrate a penitential Mass at the start of Lent. Francis is bishop of Rome, but delegates the day-to-day running of the archdiocese to a vicar.

The 83-year-old pontiff has generally enjoyed good health.

He lost part of one lung as a young man because of a respiratory illness, and suffers from sciatica, which makes walking difficult.

Pope Francis health: The Pope cancelled a planned mass this morning (Image: EMPICS)

Pope Francis has cancelled a planned Mass with Rome clergy to a "slight" illness (Image: EMPICS)

It comes amid an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy that has infected more than 400 people, almost all of them in the north.

Italy has become Europe's worst-affected country from the deadly virus.

Despite the outbreak, the Pope has not hesitated to get out of his vehicle to greet and kiss attendees.

Pope Francis is known hugging the faithful or accepting kisses on his cheek or forehead.

It comes amid an outbreak of coronavirus in Italy that has infected more than 400 people (Image: EMPICS)

Yesterday he showed solidarity with those suffering from the outbreak and praised those working to battle the virus.

He said: "I would like to express my closeness to the coronavirus patients and to the health workers who are treating them, as well as to the civil authorities."

The Vatican released a picture of the pope and Cardinal Antonio Tagle, a Filipino who has just started in a new post in the Vatican, meeting on Thursday morning with members of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, an international environmental group.

The meeting took place in a building steps from the guest house.

Pope Francis kissed a child during a service yesterday (Image: EMPICS)

It comes as 75 new cases of coronavirus in Italy have just been confirmed by offficials.

Meanwhile, Iran's former ambassador to the Vatican Hadi Khosroshahi has died of the virus.

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega