Pope Francis’ Gaffe: The Private Email That Offended Mexico


Pope Francis is trying to make amends with Mexico after writing about Argentina’s “Mexicanization” problem in a private email. The Pope insists that he did not mean to offend.

According to Time, Francis was writing a private email to his friend, Argentinian lawmaker Gustavo Vera, about the growing drug trafficking problem in the country. Vera put the email on his organization’s website, which had the unforeseen consequence of angering an entire country.

“Hopefully we are in time to avoid Mexicanization. I was talking to some Mexican bishops and it’s a terrible situation.”

CNN reports that Mexico’s Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade was quick to slam the email — in a diplomatic way.

“We would like to express our sadness and concern about the statements made regarding a private letter from Pope Francis.”

Mexican government officials took up the issue with the Holy See’s diplomat, complaining that they have fought the drug war for ten years and “stigmatizing” their country was not particularly productive.

Mexico has shown a new resolve in battling the drug cartels that have ravaged the country. In the past decade, 60,000 people have died in Mexico’s war on drugs, according to Human Rights Watch.

Nevertheless, Pope Francis‘ controversial comments reflect a sad reality. Despite years of fighting, Mexico is still America’s lead exporter for marijuana and methamphetamine, and 90 percent of the America’s cocaine travels through Mexico, according to CNN’s figures.

Some of that illicit activity and violence is finding its way to Pope Francis’ home, Argentina. Vera is actively involved in preventing the cartels from gaining a foothold, which is the context for the Pope’s email.

Still, Pope Francis is trying his best to repair the situation, especially important since 80 percent of Mexico’s population is Catholic, according to Yahoo News. The Vatican wrote a statement to explain the Pope’s phrasing.

“The pope intended only to emphasize the seriousness of the phenomenon of the drug trafficking that afflicts Mexico and other countries in Latin America. It is precisely this importance that has made the fight against drug trafficking a priority for the government.”

The Vatican added, “the expression ‘avoiding Mexicanization’ was used by the pope in a strictly private and informal email, in reply to an Argentinian friend, who is very involved in the fight against drugs and who had used this phrase.”

It’s not easy being a public figure, and no figure is more in the public than Pope Francis. His sometimes casual way of speaking is often a breath of fresh air for people valuing sincerity over formality, but in the case of Mexico, it can also be offensive.

[Image Credit: Getty Images]

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