POLISH PRIEST UNDER FIRE FOR WISHING FOR ‘SPEEDY DEATH’ OF POPE FRANCIS

WARSAW: A Polish priest is under fire after he wished a speedy death for Pope Francis if he did not change his views on Islam and immigrants. Local media reported that last month, Edward Staniek delivered a homily in Krakow in which he said: “I pray for wisdom for the pope, for his heart to open up to the Holy Spirit, and if he does not do that, I pray for his quick departure to the House of the Father.” Staniek had cited what he viewed as the “pope’s erroneous views”, including his openness to Muslims, according to local media. Pope Francis is considered too liberal by many in Poland’s church, who still follow the more conservative teachings of Saint John Paul II, the late Polish pope who served from 1978 to 2005.