” “Donald Trump, “…meet with the Pope anytime he wants”.

Pope Francis has questioned the faith of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump, arguing that anyone who “thinks only about building walls” and not bridges can not be a Christian.

Francis was responding to a reporter’s question Thursday about Trump’s declaration that he would deport millions of undocumented immigrants and build a wall along the border between Mexico and the United States. “This is not the gospel”.

And so: Pope Francis’s suggestion that Donald Trump’s views on immigration might carry him beyond the bounds of Christianity is not likely to revive “No Popery” agitation or faint memories of once-widespread fears of papal interference in USA affairs in places like SC.

“The Pope said what we already know, if we followed his teachings and positions: we shouldn’t build walls, but bridges”, the statement said. “But I simply say, if he says these things, this man is not a Christian”, Francis said in a response to a question about Trump’s anti-immigration stance. “I am proud to be a Christian, and as president I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened”.

“I think I’d explain the problem of the border”, Trump said on the morning program.

Trump, who leads Republican candidates in opinion polls, lashed out on Thursday, dismissing the pope’s remarks as “disgraceful” for questioning his faith. “The fact that he said that, I’m very honored by it”, he told Fox. I think the pope has succeeded in doing what no other man on Earth could do, and that is creating a martyr in Donald Trump. “Because the Mexican government convinced him that Trump is not a good guy”, he went on.

Some commentators suggested on social media that Trump, who is Presbyterian, could have a chance to win over evangelicals who distrust the pope’s views.

“I don’t like fighting with the pope”, he said.

He added that he thinks Francis’ remarks were “much nicer” than the media reported and that the Pope had been misled by Mexican officials.

“But to me it’s illegal immigration”, he continued. And that I am a pawn … perhaps, I do not know. “I’ll leave the judgment to you, to the people”.

The brouhaha began last week when Trump said Pope Francis’ advocacy for migrants escaping persecution showed that he doesn’t understand USA border issues. (ENGLISH) “You nearly can’t imagine that it’s going to get any more extreme or testy then it does, the candidates really going after each another”.