Duterte on ‘progressive’ Pope Francis: ‘I really salute him’ 

Is this a Christmas miracle?

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made an unexpected positive remark about Pope Francis yesterday, calling him “progressive” and expressing admiration for the man he infamously cursed.

“Itong Pope ngayon, progressive ‘to. Diyan ako, bilib ako. Saludo talaga ako dito (This Pope, he’s progressive. I’m with him, I admire him. I really salute him),” Duterete said during an event in Mella Hotel in Las Piñas City.

He was there to unveil the new hotel’s marker but, like always, ended up going off in tangents during his speech.

But Duterte’s compliment does not mean he has had a change of heart about the Catholic Church.

In fact, his comment about Pope Francis was actually made in comparison to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who he criticized.

Duterte also used a good amount of time in his speech to blast Catholic Church leaders. He even went as far as warning that they will all meet in hell.

“Tutal, sino man maniwala na magpunta kayo ng langit?…You’re dreaming. Ay lahat tayo magkita-kita sa impiyerno, kabaklaan ninyong mga p***** i** kayo (Anyway, who would believe that you would go to heaven? … You’re dreaming … We’ll all see each other in hell, you gay motherf*ckers,” Duterte said.

He said this as he once again raised the issue of sexual harassment by Catholic priests.

At one point, he even brought out the book Altar of Secrets: Sex, Politics, and Money in the Philippine Catholic Church, which he regularly references in his speeches.

Duterte also commented on his controversial statement saying that bishops critical of his administration should be killed and claimed that a priest had said the same thing about him during a mass.

“Kung sila mismo sa misa nila … sabi ng pari sana mamatay na itong si Duterte. Kung kayo mga pari, mga obispo, mga putang ina kayo, if you can say that to me, wish me to die in a mass, eh bakit ako hindi makasalita? (If they themselves during mass … a priest said I hope Duterte dies. If you priests, bishops, you motherf*ckers, if you say that to me, wish me to die in a mass, then why can’t I say it?),” Duterte said.

So, no, it’s not a Christmas miracle. In fact, it’s pretty much more of the same from Mr. President.