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Vatican seeks to quell Mexican anger over pope’s drug remark

Pope Francis waves to faithful from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, during the Angelus noon prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Francis told tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square that later Sunday he and top aides were starting a spiritual renewal retreat. Until Friday morning, they will spend time listening to reflections, meditating and praying in Ariccia, a Rome suburb. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)
Pope Francis waves to faithful from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, during the Angelus noon prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Francis told tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square that later Sunday he and top aides were starting a spiritual renewal retreat. Until Friday morning, they will spend time listening to reflections, meditating and praying in Ariccia, a Rome suburb. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca) Pope Francis waves to faithful from his studio window overlooking St. Peter's Square, during the Angelus noon prayer at the Vatican, Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015. Francis told tens of thousands of Romans, tourists and pilgrims in St. Peter's Square that later Sunday he and top aides were starting a spiritual renewal retreat. Until Friday morning, they will spend time listening to reflections, meditating and praying in Ariccia, a Rome suburb. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

By Associated Press 2 min read

VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican sought Wednesday to defuse a diplomatic tiff with Mexico after Pope Francis referred to the possible “Mexicanization” of his native Argentina from drug trafficking, the latest instance of Francis’ casual speaking style getting him into trouble.

The Vatican said it had sent an official diplomatic note to Mexico’s ambassador insisting that Francis “absolutely did not intend to offend the Mexican people” with the remark, or to detract from the government’s anti-drug efforts.

Francis made the reference in an email over the weekend to an Argentine friend and lawmaker, Gustavo Vera, who is involved in combating the drug trade. He published the pope’s email on the website of his Alameda Foundation.

In the email, Francis wrote: “Hopefully we are in time to avoid Mexicanization.”

The Mexican government formally complained about the remark during a meeting with the Holy See’s ambassador to Mexico and in a note of protest, saying the government was committed to battling drug cartels and that there was no benefit to “stigmatizing Mexico.”