Is he right? A man interrupts Pope Francisco and tells him: “God rejects you, father. You are not a king, the Church is not what God wants it to be.”

Perhaps the most controversial pope for his cover-ups of pedophile priests, he was rebuked by an Irish citizen who lives in Rome.

An Irish man interrupted Pope Francis’ weekly general audience, which took place on Wednesday at the Vatican, denouncing the Catholic Church and the pontiff, European media report.

The subject was standing at the back of the Paul VI classroom from where he expressed his message and gestured against the pope. Immediately, the policemen and the guard of the room approached the man to arrest him.

 

The individual removed his mask, appearing shocked and concerned. With his mask in hand, the man shouted in English: “The Church is not as God wants it.”

After being detained and escorted by the guards to the exit, the subject, who also spoke Spanish and Italian, continued with his protest: “God rejects you, father. You are not a king.”

The irruption occurred almost at the end of Pope Francis’ speech. Despite the shouts, the Supreme Pontiff continued his intervention and, at the end, urged the parishioners to join together to pray for the detainee.

“A few minutes ago, we heard a person screaming and grumbling. He had a problem, I don’t know if he is physical, psychic or spiritual, but he is one of our brothers, and he is in trouble,” the pontiff said. “I would like to end by praying for him, for our brother who is suffering […] Let us not be deaf to the needs of this brother,” he added.

A Vatican source reported that the Irish citizen involved resided in Rome and had previously staged similar acts in several basilicas in the Italian capital. After the incident, the man was taken to the police station.

With information from local media, Euronews and RT.