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Here’s a Picture of the Pope Being Given a Really Weird Crucifix

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Updated: | Originally published: ;

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.

[Guardian]

Bienvenido Francisco! Scenes from the Pope’s Visit to Latin America

In this July 3, 2015 photo, a life-size cutout image of Pope Francis stands over La Paz, seen from the cable car platform in El Alto, placed there by the transportation workers for commuters to pose with for photos, part of the city's promotion of the pope's upcoming visit to Bolivia. The pope's trip to South America that includes Bolivia is set for July 5-12, though he will only spend four hours in Bolivia's capital due to the altitude, church officials say. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
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—AP
People 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, Wednesday, July 8, 2015. The Quito home is for elderly who lack the resources to remain in their own homes or family members able to care for them. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)
People 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—AP
Street vendors selling Bolivian and Vatican flags pass a large image of Pope Francis ahead of the pope's arrival to El Alto, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Due to the altitude, the pontiff will spend only a few hours in the capital city La Paz, which is near El Alto, during his South American tour. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)
Street 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—AP
Pope Francis waves to the faithful from a popemobile in El Quinche, Ecuador, July 8, 2015. Pope Francis on Tuesday said protecting the planet was no longer a choice but a duty and called for a new "social justice" where access to the earth's resources would be based on equality instead of economic interests. REUTERS/Guillermo Granja
Pope Francis waves to the faithful from a popemobile in El Quinche, Ecuador, on July 8, 2015.Guillermo Granja—Reuters
Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis to the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, July 7, 2015. On his final full day in Quito Pope Francis pressed his case for a new economic and environmental world order saying the goods of the Earth are meant for everyone and must not be exploited by the wealthy few for short-term profit at the expense of the poor. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Faithful wait for the arrival of Pope Francis to the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Gregorio Borgia—AP
Faithful gather to attend a mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015. Thousands of pilgrims braved wind and rain to camp out overnight for a mass to be given by Francis in Ecuador's highland capital Quito for an expected million people. REUTERS/Gary Granja
Thousands 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—Reuters
A 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, Quito, Ecuador, Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Francis is scheduled to meet with members of Ecuador's civil society and give and address in San Francisco Church. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
A 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—AP
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015. Thousands of pilgrims braved wind and rain to camp out overnight for a mass to be given by Pope Francis in Ecuador's highland capital Quito for an expected million people. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Pope Francis arrives to celebrate mass at the Bicentenario Park in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Alessandro Bianchi—Reuters
Pope Francis walks with his pastoral staff to celebrate a Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Monday, July 6, 2015. Latin America's first pope arrived in this port city on Monday for the first big event of a three-nation tour where he's set compassion for the weak and respect for the environment as central themes. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)
Pope Francis walks with his pastoral staff to celebrate a Mass in Guayaquil, Ecuador, on July 6, 2015. Gregorio Borgia—AP
Pope Francis arrives to meet members of civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015. Pope Francis on Tuesday said protecting the planet was no longer a choice but a duty and called for a new "social justice" where access to the earth's resources would be based on equality instead of economic interests. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi
Pope Francis arrives to meet members of civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015.Alessandro Bianchi—Reuters
Pope Francis is greeted by a child as he meets members of the civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, July 7, 2015. Pope Francis on Tuesday said protecting the planet was no longer a choice but a duty and called for a new "social justice" where access to the earth's resources would be based on equality instead of economic interests. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Pope 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—Reuters
Pope Francis speaks as he meets members of the civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito
Pope Francis speaks as he meets members of the civil society at the San Francisco Church in Quito, Ecuador, on July 7, 2015. Guillermo Granja—Reuters
Pope Francis waves to the crowd lining the road to La Paz, as he rides aboard the popemobile from El Alto, Bolivia, Wednesday, July 8, 2015. Due to the altitude, Pope Francis will spend only a few hours in the capital city La Paz. Bolivia is the second of three countries Francis will be visiting on his tour of the continent. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
Pope 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

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