SCRANTON -- It’s a political smack down between Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump and a very unlikely foe.
A fiery exchange has erupted between the Donald and the leader of the Catholic Church.
In his latest round of political sparring, Trump took on a rather unusual target, Pope Francis.
The fight broke out after the pope told reporters in Mexico anyone who wants to build a border isn't Christian.
Trump, who supports border protection, lashed out, calling the pope's comments disgraceful and accused the Mexican government of using the pope as a pawn.
At the University of Scranton, many Catholic students and staff felt Trump went too far.
“He just mouths off about everything all the time and then to hear him disparage the pope is just, it's too much. It's just too much,” said faculty member Andree Catalfamo.
“I just think he has an attitude where he thinks he can say what he wants and get no backlash for it but that's not the case,” said senior Michael Filadardo.
“It's definitely very disrespectful,” said senior Matt Finor. “Coming from Donald Trump even, the pope? That's the highest-up for the Catholic religion, got to lose some voters that way, really.”
But it seems there is nothing the Donald can say that will detract supporters.
In Lackawanna County, there are plenty of signs of support for him.
Doug Miller of Scranton is one of them.
“We finally now have someone who's telling it like it is and whether it can be controversial at times but a lot of things he's saying are the truth,” said Miller.
A group called Northeastern Pennsylvania for Donald Trump tweeted a caption about the Vatican being protected by a wall, posting pictures of it on Facebook.
Miller says Trump is calling for the same protection for our country.
“Trump's discussing the security and the safety of our country and to talk about illegals coming in and ISIS and the security threat.”
