How Pope Francis conquered ‘snake pit’ Vatican to shape modern Catholic Church
Pope Francis once defined his idea of heaven as “to go out one day, without being recognised, and go to a pizzeria.”
The Argentinian pontiff also spoke about his passion for steamy Latin dancing, admitting: “I love to tango.”
He even called whisky “the real holy water”.
The former nightclub bouncer, who has died after being hospitalised for a “complex clinical picture” including a respiratory tract infection, was probably the most approachable pope in history.
But to hardline Catholics, Francis was a heretic, and was even accused of Satanism.
His crime was to overhaul the inner workings of the Vatican, which he once described as a “snake pit”.
Francis was also far more open and engaged than any pope before him on questions such as the Vatican’s handling of child sex abuse cases and women taking on bigger roles in the Church.
And on the issue of homosexuality, officially a sin, he caused rejoicing when he said: “Who am I to judge?”
He even backed gay civil unions.
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