Before leaving Rome on his trip Sri Lanka and the Philippines, Pope Francis, as is the papal custom, laid a bouquet of flowers at the altar of the papal Basilica of St. Mary Major. As has become the practice, during the flights from a place where a pope has visited, the press corps on the same flight are accorded an interview with the Holy Father. These interviews are informal and often free-wheeling, with reporters from various nations taking turns addressing questions of concern to The Pope, who is generally relaxed in his responses.
As in his return flight from Rio, Pope Francis will usually make some remark that calls forth international attention. Vatican officials have to spend a few days explaining what he really meant. The trips from Colombo and from Manila were no exceptions. In the trip from Colombo, Pope Francis said that, as a young man, if anyone insulted his own mother, he would “punch him.” And on the flight from Manila, The Pope chastised a good lady for having too many children too soon. Needless to say, these remarks did not go unnoticed in the world press.
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