About that note from Pope Francis...it was addressed to the Conference as a whole...

[Surya Gayatri]

CROSS-POSTED TO GD-P. PLEASE REC UP HERE:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511744398#top

The note explained that Pope Francis HAD intended to stop by the Conference, but that he was prevented from doing so at the last minute "because he had to get to bed to rest up for his trip to Greece tomorrow."

That's what was announced on MSNBC just now.

They also said that he was obliged to send the note, NOT because of the presence of the Bern, but because some notable and close Latin American friends of Pope Francis are there.

IOW, if the Bern hadn't barged his way in there, Pope Francis would've gone over to see his Spanish-speaking bros.

In diplomatic terminology, it is OBVIOUS that Pope Francis purposely stayed away to avoid the impropriety of the appearance of papal interference in US politics.

[SunSeeker]

1. In other words, the Pope snubbed Sanders. nt

[NurseJackie]

10. That wasn't very nice! :-P

Joy Behar: "You're meeting with the Pope?"
Bernie Sanders: "Yup".

[workinclasszero]

2. Another bro lie bites the dust!

In record time I might add!

Thanks!

[Surya Gayatri]

6. The debunkings are coming SO fast and furious that it's hard to keep up.

[BlueCaliDem]

3. It's pretty darn clear to me. eom

[IamMab]

4. And now his antics cost people who probably should have gotten to meet the Pope their opportunity.

Heckuva job, Bernie.

[MBS]

28. You can see why the president of the social sciences academy

-Margaret Archer- was so obviously teed off.

[Her Sister]

5. The pope needed to wash his hair!

and organize his socks!

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Bwaahaaaa! Just a busy, busy bee!

[dlwickham]

22. I know I always wait until the night before to pack

[BlueMTexpat]

8. This is also clear from a NYT

report. http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/04/15/bernie-sanders-at-vatican-city-calls-for-a-more-moral-economy/?_r=0 The note was actually sent to and read aloud by Msgr Sorondo.

I sincerely believe that your take is correct. Pope Francis would likely have stopped by to see the South Americans at least. But after the Kim Davis affair last fall, he very likely wanted to avoid any appearance of impropriety, especially one so flagrant, in another instance of being used to further the ends of a US politician.

So Bernie & co hopped back on their plane to fly back to the US shortly after getting this news. Hope that they stop by Vermont to dig out those pesky taxes.

[mcar]

9. Another exaggeration from Team Bernie?

Halo's getting a bit rusty, isn't it?

[LisaM]

11. Team Sanders should be embarrassed.

The whole thing is absolutely ridiculous.

[Walk away]

12. Bernie Sanders ruins everybody's day again!

Now even the Pope doesn't like him. Is there anyone left???

[UtahLib]

13. I'm sure

he will have had time to devise his own spin by the time he arrives home. He's becoming so proficient at twisting the words of others that he should open a pretzel factory.

[Surya Gayatri]

15. What a sleazy, old-style pol he's turned out to be.

[Hekate]

14. The BSers don't see it that way, of course. But really, after Kim Davis... US politics....

I think Il Papa wants to stay well away from our mishigas.

[Surya Gayatri]

16. Il Papa wasn't going to touch the Bern with a barge pole.

I can't believe that shmendrik tried to dupe the Pope. The bleeding Pope. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF HILLARY HAD TRIED SUCH A DIRTY TRICK?

OMG! Her political epitaph would be on the front pages as we speak.

[Hekate]

19. Meanwhile, the BS acolytes are still celebrating their mass delight

[COLGATE4]

21. Peronally, I think he's more of a

shlemazel than shmendrik but that works, too.

[Surya Gayatri]

24. He makes his own bad luck...but his jerkhood has a natural, organic quality.

Actually, he's a perfect candidate for both epithets. Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

[COLGATE4]

25. I say tomatoe, you say tomahto.. he's both. nt

[Princess Turandot]

17. Anyone who's seen the coverage of any of his foreign trips...

knows how frail the man is! Yep...it makes perfect sense....

A new entry in the boorish sub-category of 'The Ugly American'.

[Surya Gayatri]

18. Obviously of delicate constitution. His energies must be husbanded.

That said, he DID find a time and place to meet with attendee Morales, the Bolivian statesman, the night before.

Francis DOES have his priorities, after all!

Yes, Sanders re-defines the concept of "The Ugly American", as the gate crasher at the Vatican, trying to exploit the papacy for political gain.

[Fla Dem]

20. Yes, I think BS, Jeffrey Sachs and the Monsignor put the Pope in a very difficult situation.

Pope Francis handled it admirably.

[Surya Gayatri]

23. Or, the protocol officers around him. "Diplomacy" is their middle name...

[MBS]

29. I agree on all your points. n/t

[Lucinda]

26. KNR

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

27. Holy shit! This is embarassing. No wonder BS didn't casually mention this so-called invitation

during the debate. LOL!!