Mexico's main archdiocese has taken the unusual step of publicly saying Pope Francis had been badly advised when directed harsh words to local bishops during his visit in mid-February.
The pope told a gathering of local bishops not to be career-minded clerics, saying, "We do not need 'princes,' but rather a community of the Lord's witnesses."
An editorial published Sunday on a website of the archdiocese of Mexico City says "the hand of discord had tried to accent the negative."
It denies local bishops were out of touch with the people, and says the pope's comments "might be due to someone near him who gave him bad advice."
The editorial ends with the question: "Who gave the Pope bad advice?"