Pope pictured with his 'friends': photo sparks online storm
A photo of the Pope with Ayuso and Botín at the Almudena cathedral in Madrid triggers criticism over his alleged left-wing ties and reopens the Valle de los Caídos controversy.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
The Pope with his 'friends': the photo dividing right and left
An image of Pope Francis at the Almudena cathedral, flanked by Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Ana Botín, has unleashed a political storm on social media. What some see as a gesture of institutional courtesy, others see as proof that the Pontiff rubs shoulders with people they consider 'executioners'.
The photo in question, circulated in recent hours, shows the Pope alongside the Madrid regional president and the banker, among other attendees. But the controversy doesn't stop at the familiar faces. The harshest comments point to the alleged presence of 'reds' and former ETA members in the papal entourage, while the Pope's defenders recall that the greeting is mere diplomatic courtesy.
'That's what happens when you do politics without having to and you stand next to the executioner instead of the victims,' one analysis sums up. Others, however, point to the left as the Vatican's real bootlickers. The discussion overlaps with another open front: the Government's announcement that it would dig beneath the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen, Franco's monumental basilica) during the papal visit, which some interpret as a provocation.
Meanwhile, the smile of one of those present has been described as 'psychopathic' in the comments. The photo, meant to be a simple greeting, has become a barometer of Spain's political fracture.
Related discussions in the forum
An image of Pope Francis at the Almudena cathedral, flanked by Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Ana Botín, has unleashed a political storm on social media. What some see as a gesture of institutional courtesy, others see as proof that the Pontiff rubs shoulders with people they consider 'executioners'.
The photo in question, circulated in recent hours, shows the Pope alongside the Madrid regional president and the banker, among other attendees. But the controversy doesn't stop at the familiar faces. The harshest comments point to the alleged presence of 'reds' and former ETA members in the papal entourage, while the Pope's defenders recall that the greeting is mere diplomatic courtesy.
'That's what happens when you do politics without having to and you stand next to the executioner instead of the victims,' one analysis sums up. Others, however, point to the left as the Vatican's real bootlickers. The discussion overlaps with another open front: the Government's announcement that it would dig beneath the Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen, Franco's monumental basilica) during the papal visit, which some interpret as a provocation.
Meanwhile, the smile of one of those present has been described as 'psychopathic' in the comments. The photo, meant to be a simple greeting, has become a barometer of Spain's political fracture.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (52 replies).
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