The high principles and moral clarity of all involved are clear from the words of Fr. Lombardi:
“The Holy Father never intended to infer that Mr. Trump is not Christian.”
“The pope has no interest in influencing the presidential election process in the US.”
“Mr. Sanders will attend a Vatican conference on peace, but he was invited by the organizers not by the pope.”
“The pope has no plans whatsoever to meet Mr. Sanders during his time in Rome.”
Lombardi is to Francis as Chris Matthews is to Obama.