Diplomatic difficulties ‘will not prevent visit’

Pope Francis has reassured French reporters that he plans to visit their country despite difficulties over Paris’s nomination of a gay man as ambassador to the Holy See, writes Tom Heneghan.

The Vatican’s continuing delay in deciding whether to accept Laurent Stefanini has led to speculation in French media that bilateral ties were too strained to allow a visit before France’s presidential election in 2017.

But on the plane back from his visit to Bosnia, Francis said, “Oh yes, I do intend to go to France. I’ve promised the bishops. There’s no problem. Little problems are not problems.”