They’re cross Christians liken anti-migrant Italian minister to Satan over crucifix plans

An Italian Catholic magazine has likened Matteo Salvini, Italy’s far-right interior minister, to Satan after he pledged to halt migrant arrivals to the country and speed up deportations of illegal immigrants.

It came as a close adviser to Pope Francis criticised legislation proposed by Mr Salvini’s anti-migrant League party to require ports and other public institutions to display a crucifix.

“If you remove the (religious) symbolism from the crucifix ... it becomes a parody,” the Rev Antonio Spadaro, editor of Civilta Cattolica, a Jesuit magazine, said during a Rome conference on the Pope. A tweet Mr Spardaro posted earlier in the day with a blunt “Hands off!” went viral.

The crucifix, he wrote, “screams love to the enemy and unconditional welcome”.

“Vade Retro Salvini,” (Go back, Salvini) read the headline in the Famiglia

Cristiana magazine, in a play on the Medieval Catholic phrase used to repel evil “Vade Retro Satana” (Go back, Satan).

Mr Salvini responded on social media: “Famiglia Cristiana

likens me to Satan. I do not pretend to lecture anyone, I am not a perfect Christian, but I do not think I deserve that.”

♦ Police in Rome yesterday cleared nearly 400 people, including young, from a camp inhabited for years by members of the Roma community, despite a European Union court ruling halting demolition.