Papal Jesting Sparks Latest Italian Fight

[La_Serpiente]

Papal Jesting Sparks Latest Italian Fight

ROME - The pope had his audience laughing, but his jokes opened new cracks in Premier Silvio Berlusconi's coalition government Sunday.

Last week, Pope John Paul (news - web sites) II triggered roars of laughter at the Vatican (news - web sites) with one-liners made in Romanesco, the capital's earthy dialect. His audience, a roomful of Roman priests, loved it. So did Italy's news anchors, who played the Polish-born pope's banter over and over on that night's newscasts.

A Berlusconi ally, Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi, was not amused by the pope's playful affection for Romans. The gruff and often grumpy coalition partner has made anti-Roman diatribe part of his political base in northern Italy.

Bossi demanded the Roman Catholic Church no longer be entitled to a share of national income tax, which the state divvies up among religious organizations every year

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Papal Jesting Sparks Latest Italian Fight