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| Donald Trump backtracks with praise for Pope Francis after branding him 'disgraceful' | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Republican front runner Donald Trump has praised Pope Francis for "doing a great job" in a backtrack, hours after calling describing the Pontiff as 'disgraceful'. | Republican front runner Donald Trump has praised Pope Francis for "doing a great job" in a backtrack, hours after calling describing the Pontiff as 'disgraceful'. |
| During a visit to Mexico, Pope Francis had responded to Mr Trump's proposal for a wall along the US-Mexican border by saying: "A person who thinks only about building walls...and not of building bridges, is not Christian." | During a visit to Mexico, Pope Francis had responded to Mr Trump's proposal for a wall along the US-Mexican border by saying: "A person who thinks only about building walls...and not of building bridges, is not Christian." |
| On the campaign trail in South Carolina, Mr Trump's initially had responded angrily to the Pope's comment, saying: "For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. | On the campaign trail in South Carolina, Mr Trump's initially had responded angrily to the Pope's comment, saying: "For a religious leader to question a person’s faith is disgraceful. |
| "I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. | "I am proud to be a Christian and as President I will not allow Christianity to be consistently attacked and weakened, unlike what is happening now, with our current President. |
| "No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith." | "No leader, especially a religious leader, should have the right to question another man’s religion or faith." |
| Later in the day at a televised town hall meeting in Greenville, South Carolina, Mr Trump made a more considered statement: "I have a lot of respect for the Pope. He has a lot of personality and I think he's doing a very good job, he has a lot of energy." | Later in the day at a televised town hall meeting in Greenville, South Carolina, Mr Trump made a more considered statement: "I have a lot of respect for the Pope. He has a lot of personality and I think he's doing a very good job, he has a lot of energy." |
| However, he did reiterate his belief the Pope had been ignorant of the drugs being smuggled into the US and other security issues before criticising his border wall proposal. | However, he did reiterate his belief the Pope had been ignorant of the drugs being smuggled into the US and other security issues before criticising his border wall proposal. |
| Catholics currently make up nine per cent of the South Carolina electorate, of which a third are made up of Hispanic Catholics, RNS reports. | Catholics currently make up nine per cent of the South Carolina electorate, of which a third are made up of Hispanic Catholics, RNS reports. |
| The Republican South Carolina Primary takes place on Saturday 20 February. | The Republican South Carolina Primary takes place on Saturday 20 February. |