Pope Francis said on Wednesday it was an "honor" to be attacked by U.S. Church conservatives and their Catholic media allies, who have criticized him on issues from theology to climate change and even called for his resignation.
In it, Seneze describes a network of conservative commentators, political operatives, theologians and churchmen who have sniped at Francis, often through well-funded Catholic news outlets and foundations.
After Francis left the journalists' section of the plane, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni returned to issue a statement attempting to clarify his remarks.