[BlatherNaut]

I'm going to assume you've been over-exposed to veterinarians.

coprophilia: marked interest in excrement; especially : the use of feces or filth for sexual excitement

No mention of veterinarians here. The fact that the Pope made such a vulgar reference in an interview is bizarre and certainly raises questions.

[Mrs. Don-o]

If you look up coprophagia, you will see its primary meaning is sh-- eating. "Coprophilia" is specifically the sexual paraphilia.

Rhetorically, it's a distinctionw without much difference. He was speaking metaphorically. He was rather brusquely referencing people who are drawn to, and have always in their mouths, the mud of negative talk. In the context, he was speaking of sinful defamation, aspersions, innuendoes. Similar concept: muck-raking. Conveys the idea of uncleanness in the mouth.