eva333: I am no fan of pope Francis, but in this case you are incorrect about his comments in the Dec 1st general audience. He was referring to a gospel passage in which the Jewish Elders, trying to slander Jesus' reputation made a comment inferring that Jesus' birth was due to prostitution. The pope then said that that he was saddened by this most evil passage in the bible. So the pope was, in that case, defending the Catholic teaching about the Virgin Birth. Hope this clarifies the issue for you.