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Pope Francis wrote a letter to a journalist following speculation that he’s quietly supported Vladimir Putin, per Fox News.
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In the letter, he reportedly accused journalists of participating in “slander” and “coprophilia.”
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Pope Francis has previously accused the media of coprophilia — a sexual interest in excrement.
Pope Francis wrote that journalists who speculate that he has quietly supported Russian President Vladimir Putin are falling into the “sin” of participating in coprophilia or a sexual fetish for excrement, Fox News reported.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the pontiff has implicitly criticized Putin for “unacceptable armed aggression.” He has, however, failed to mention the leader by name explicitly.
Journalists have speculated that a refusal to name Putin amounts to a failure to condemn Russia’s action.
Pope Francis reportedly wrote a letter to Argentinian journalist Gustavo Sylvestre, dated April 7, accusing reporters of misrepresenting him and his position.
“Always in that information are some of the sins that journalists tend to fall into; disinformation, slander, defamation, coprophilia,” the pontiff wrote, according to a copy of the letter published by Sylvestre.
Coprophilia is the scientific terminology used to describe an abnormal interest, usually sexual, in feces.
“I’m told some article authors get paid for this. Sad! A vocation as noble as communicating soiled in this way,” the letter reportedly said.
The Pope made a similar comparison in 2016, according to NPR. He compared the media’s interest in scandals to coprophilia, the media outlet reported.
“I believe that the media should be very clear, very transparent, and not fall prey — without offense, please — to the sickness of coprophilia, which is always wanting to communicate scandal, to communicate ugly things, even though they may be true,” the Pope said in an interview with the Belgian Catholic weekly Tertio.
The Holy See Press Office did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
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