Man disrupts pope audience, shouts: ‘God rejects you’
A shouting man denouncing the Church disrupted an audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican Wednesday, before being escorted outside by police.
“The Church is not the way God wants it,” the man repeated in English, as he stood in the back of the audience hall holding his mask in his hand and gesticulating.
The man, who also spoke in Spanish and Italian, appeared distraught and concerned as he implored the pope: “Please.”
The disturbance came near the end of Francis’ weekly general audience with the faithful in the large Paul VI hall.
The 85-year-old pontiff continued to deliver his address during the disturbance and asked the audience to pray for the man / © AFP
The 85-year-old pope, who had continued to deliver his address during the shouting, asked the audience to pray for the man.
“We heard, a few minutes ago, a person who was yelling, scolding, who had a problem — I don’t know if it’s physical, psychic or spiritual, but it’s one of our brothers, in difficulty,” said the pontiff.
“I would like to conclude by praying for him, our brother who suffers. Poor man, he’s shouting because he’s suffering.”
“Let’s not be deaf to the needs of this brother”.