Here’s a Picture of the Pope Being Given a Really Weird Crucifix
Here’s a Picture of the Pope Being Given a Really Weird Crucifix
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Bolivian President Evo Morales presents Pope Francis with a crucifix carved into a wooden hammer and sickle, in La Paz, Bolivia, on July 8, 2015.L'Osservatore Romano/AP
Bolivian President Evo Morales gave Pope Francis a crucifix Thursday displaying Jesus nailed to a hammer and sickle. The Pontiff examined the gift politely, and then handed it back to a Bolivian political aide, the Guardian reports.
The hammer and sickle is a prominent symbol in Marxism, an atheist political ideology. While this particular crucifix was designed by an activist Jesuit, the Guardian reports that some conservative Catholics have taken offense to the gift, calling the move manipulative. When asked, a Vatican spokesman dismissed the idea of any controversy, saying, “The Pope has had no particular reaction to this.”
Morales also gave the Pontiff a necklace bearing the same symbol, according to the Italian news agency Rome Reports, which specializes in papal and Vatican news.
Bienvenido Francisco! Scenes from the Pope’s Visit to Latin America
A life-size cutout image of Pope Francis stands on the cable car platform in El Alto, overlooking La Paz, Bolivia, on July 3, 2015.Juan Karita—APPeople wait for the arrival of Pope Francis outside a nursing home run by the Missionary Sisters of Charity, the religious order founded by Mother Teresa, in Tumbaco, Ecuador, on July 8, 2015. Dolores Ochoa—APStreet vendors selling Bolivian and Vatican flags pass a large image of Pope Francis ahead of the Pope's arrival to El Alto, Bolivia, on July 8, 2015.Juan Karita—APPope Francis waves to the faithful from a popemobile in El Quinche, Ecuador, on July 8, 2015.Guillermo Granja—ReutersFaithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis to the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Gregorio Borgia—APThousands of pilgrims braved wind and rain to camp out overnight and attend a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.Guillermo Granja—ReutersA woman holds a rosary and a wooden cross with an image of Pope Francis as she waits for the arrival of the Pontiff in San Francisco square in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Fernando Llano—APPope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersPope Francis walks with his pastoral staff to celebrate a Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on July 6, 2015. Gregorio Borgia—APPope Francis arrives to meet members of civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersPope Francis is greeted by a child as he meets members of the civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Alessandro Bianchi—ReutersPope Francis speaks as he meets members of the civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Guillermo Granja—ReutersPope Francis waves to the crowd lining the road to La Paz, as he rides aboard the popemobile from El Alto, Bolivia, on July 8, 2015.Rodrigo Abd—AP
