The priests, together with a lay group, say there are attacks "of every kind" against the Pope, Crux reported.

Local media and political leaders have either tried to claim Francis as their own or discredit his every word, it is alleged.

An inter-religious alliance signed a petition "ratifying our commitment to the Pope's intentions and our repudiation to the actions against him".

One attack against Francis was launched by a former president of Uruguay, Julio Maria Sanguinetti.

Writing in Argentina's La Nacion newspaper, Mr Sanguinetti praised the start of Francis's pontificate.

His "colloquial and open style, his austere life and his generalised combating against the horror of clerical sexual abuse surrounded him with hope".

He noted the Pope's compassionate attitude towards women who have had an abortion.

Also noted was Francis's call for priests to work in the slums, which "earned him applause of the liberal sectors of the Catholic world and gave him credit in public opinion".

Yet, according to Mr Sanguinetti, the last three years have shown a Pontiff who fails to be "universal" by constantly meddling in Argentina's political affairs.

The former president also described Francis's economic vision as "anachronistic" and even "anarchist".

He also criticised Francis's outlook on refugees and migrants in Europe.

Italian blog Il Sismografo, considered a semi-official voice of the Vatican's Secretariat of State, has repeatedly complained about newspaper coverage in Argentina.

These media outlets "do everything in their power to outdo each other in the amplification of falsehood, hypotheses, suppositions and insinuations" regarding Francis.

The blog stated that newspapers report people who wrongly appoint themselves as papal spokespersons.

Sources

• Crux
• Image: Times Union

The group called Catholics for Choice says its billboard and newspaper advertising campaign gives "an authentically Catholic message".

The "Good Catholics Use Condoms" advertisements show a smiling couple with the wording: "We believe in God. We believe that sex is sacred. We believe in caring for each other. We believe in using condoms."

But the chairman of the Kenyan Episcopal Conference, Cardinal John Njue, said the advertisements "deliberately ridicule the Catholic teaching on responsible sexual behaviour across all ages".

He assured all Catholics and "all who may be misguided by these adverts that the propagators of the message, who are anonymous, are not an authority in the Catholic Church and are therefore speaking for themselves and on their own behalf".

Catholics for Choice has a long record of opposing Catholic teaching in the US, especially on sexuality and abortion, since it was formed in 1973.

According to Wikipedia, its multi-million dollar budget is largely funded by secular foundations such as the Ford Foundation, Buffett Foundation, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation and Playboy Foundation.

Its president, Jon O'Brien, said it launched its campaign in Kenya after pressure from religious groups forced the government to drop an advertising campaign promoting condom use in marriage in March.

"The ad was based on good science," said O'Brien; "more than 1.6 million people are living with HIV in Kenya, and condoms are an evidence-based method for preventing the spread of HIV.

"The aim of the campaign," he said, "is to ensure that Catholics know that despite what the bishops say, Catholics can in good conscience use condoms. Catholics in Kenya are no different. They can take the steps to protect themselves and their partners against HIV."

Sources:

BBC

God Discussion

Kenya Episcopal Conference

Image: Capital FM