In a Q&A session with Jesuits in Slovakia, Pope Francis revealed that after his colon surgery this summer, some prelates wanted him to die. He also issued a thinly-veiled criticism of EWTN, saying the Catholic network’s attacks on him are “the work of the devil.”

America’s Vatican correspondent Gerard O’Connell wrote about the pope’s comments and reported that Pope Francis had previously confronted an EWTN reporter about the network’s attacks on him. On this episode, Gerry joins host Colleen Dulle to discuss the pope’s distinction between attacks on him and on his office, and between legitimate criticism and attacks.

Gerry and Colleen also look into Pope Francis’ comments that “some people wanted [him] to die” after his colon surgery and even held meetings to prepare for a conclave.

With the pope facing resistance both in the Vatican and in the media, Gerry said, “I found it sad that the pope has to defend himself. EWTN is based in the United States, can not the [U.S.] Catholic bishops’ conference defend the pope on this?”

Links from the show:

Gerard O’Connell | Pope Francis responds to attacks from EWTN, other church critics: ‘They are the work of the devil.’

Full transcript of Pope Francis’ Q&A with Slovak Jesuits

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