Lefebvrists chide pope over visit to immigrant island
Photo ~ Lampedusa is part of Sicilian territory, the isolated island of 5000 inhabitants is less than 115 kilometres from the coast of Tunisia, making it a beacon for asylum seekers fleeing the poverty and violence that has accompanied the Arab Spring. Of the 7913 refugees who arrived on the Italian coast in the first six months of this year, 3648 landed on Lampedusa.
Rome, July 16 - The Italian chapter of the Catholic traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) rebuked Pope Francis on Tuesday for visiting immigrants and refugees on the island of Lampedusa.
In a statement, the Lefebvrist breakaway group criticized the pope for going against centuries of Church efforts to "preserve Catholicism" in the face of the "Mohammedan invasion," recalling "popes, among whom many saints, who armed fleets to stop the (armed, of course) Muslims in Italy".
Last week Francis chose Lampedusa, an island off the coast of Sicily, as the destination for his first official trip as pope, drawing attention to the plight of thousands who cross the Mediterranean - and the many who die in the process - each year trying to immigrate through Italy.
SSPX said the visit reflected the influence of a "Masonic plot to create a multi-cultural society".
SSPX broke away from the Church over theological differences stemming from the changes it adopted with the Second Vatican Council of some 45 years ago. The Vatican is currently engaged in a process aimed at formally reuniting the group with the Catholic Church
Rome, July 16 - The Italian chapter of the Catholic traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) rebuked Pope Francis on Tuesday for visiting immigrants and refugees on the island of Lampedusa.
In a statement, the Lefebvrist breakaway group criticized the pope for going against centuries of Church efforts to "preserve Catholicism" in the face of the "Mohammedan invasion," recalling "popes, among whom many saints, who armed fleets to stop the (armed, of course) Muslims in Italy".
Last week Francis chose Lampedusa, an island off the coast of Sicily, as the destination for his first official trip as pope, drawing attention to the plight of thousands who cross the Mediterranean - and the many who die in the process - each year trying to immigrate through Italy.
SSPX said the visit reflected the influence of a "Masonic plot to create a multi-cultural society".
SSPX broke away from the Church over theological differences stemming from the changes it adopted with the Second Vatican Council of some 45 years ago. The Vatican is currently engaged in a process aimed at formally reuniting the group with the Catholic Church