A gift from Satan? Pope Francis rejects evil 666 gift!

Donation from Argentine president intended to slight Pope Francis.

Pope Francis will not accept donations with 666 in the sum, it turns out. The Holy Father rejected a sum from Argentine President Mauricio Macri, donated to an educational foundation within the Vatican. The two Argentinians have an adversarial relationship and it's possible the donation was intended to be a slight against the Pope.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) - President Macri of Argentina offered a donation to Pope Francis, earmarked for the Scholas Occurentes educational foundation, in the sum of 16,666,000 pesos ($1.2 million USD). Pope Francis has rejected the donation in a short letter, adding in a post script, "I don't like the 666."

Both Pope Francis and President Macri have been natural political opponents. Macri is a center-right politician and is critical of Pope Francis' more populist approach that emphasizes simplicity and pastoral care. The pair have clashed over social movements in Argentina and the fates of activists and protesters which have been treated harshly by the Argentine government. Pope Francis has also been critical of the nation's austerity measures which have exacerbated the plight of the poor.

Making matters worse, the public press has had a field day with the donation, suggesting that relations were thawing between the pair, when it's likely the donation was intended as a slight, and not a gesture of goodwill.

Both sides formerly deny any animosity toward the other, but their statements and behaviors suggest otherwise.

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'

Copyright 2021 - Distributed by Catholic Online