Pope Francis Targeted by Fake News Amid Tensions With Conservative Catholics

The incidents underscore the tensions between Francis and some conservative elements of the Catholic Church. The pope's calls for a less strict church that is more compassionate toward "imperfect" members, such as those who divorced and remarried, has not been welcomed by some conservative members.

"Francis is not the first pontiff to fall victim of rumors and fabrications. Paul VI, John Paul II and Benedict XVI were all unfairly criticized at some stage. What's new here is the way the rumors are spread. It's a sign of the times," Antonio Spadaro, the editor-in-chief of the Jesuit newspaper Civiltà Cattolica, told NBC News.

"This is the proof that the pope has enemies and his role as a moral and religious leader is unsettling to some," he added.

A source at the Vatican who spoke on the condition of anonymity, however, downplayed the latest stunt as harmless: "It wasn't done in bad taste. It's quite funny, actually. We are not worried."

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/pope-francis-targeted-fake-news-amid-tensions-conservative-catholics-n719326