A bishop in Sicily, in the far south of Italy, has sparked controversy after telling his bewildered church, including many young children, that “Santa Claus doesn't exist“. It even left for Coca-Cola.
“No, Santa Claus doesn’t exist. In fact, I would add that the red of the dress he wears was chosen by Coca-Cola exclusively for advertising purposes,” said the bishop.
His words “froze” the children present at the Diocese of Noto, reports the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera , leading to complaints from parents and a huge backlash on social media.
So much so that the diocese itself has tried to clear up the misunderstanding: “In recent days, a controversy has arisen because the Bishop of Noto allegedly told a group of children that Santa Claus does not exist. Firstly, on behalf of the bishop, I express my sadness at this statement that has caused disappointment in the little ones. I want to clarify that Monsignor Staglianò's intentions were very different, that is, he wanted to reflect with greater awareness on the meaning of Christmas and the beautiful traditions that accompany it”, wrote Dom Alessandro Paolino, head of Social Communications of the Diocese of Noto.
For many, however, it was too late. “Babbo Natale” was among the most talked about topics on Twitter, alongside unpleasant comparisons between the bishop and the Grinch, fictional character who stole Christmas.
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