From the Newsweek article:
“Shortly after the article was published, the Vatican issued a statement that claimed the article was ‘not a faithful transcript’ and that the meeting between Pope Francis and Scalfari was a private meeting and not a formal interview.
"’What is reported by the author in today’s article is the result of his reconstruction, in which the literal words pronounced by the Pope are not quoted. No quotation of the aforementioned article must therefore be considered as a faithful transcription of the words of the Holy Father,’ the Vatican said in a statement translated by the Catholic News Agency.
“The Catholic New Agency also pointed out that, after a controversial 2013 article, Scalfari admitted that some words attributed to the pontiff ‘were not shared by Pope Francis’ himself.”
It’s horribly sad that this headline is more believable than not.
“the Vatican, however credible, is denying this.”
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When Francis says stuff like this the Vatican PR-damage control invariably come up with a “what he really meant to say was...”.
It’s amazing how the press group at the Vatican keeps bailing Frank out.