Pope: I knew good Marxists; label doesn’t hurt me

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis is shrugging off the "Marxist" label that some ultra-conservatives might apply to him because he frets that economic growth doesn´t always help the poor.

In an interview with Italian daily La Stampa published on Sunday, Francis is quoted as saying: "Marxist ideology is wrong." But the Argentina-born pontiff added he has "known many Marxists who were good persons, and that´s why I don´t feel offended" by the label.

He also mentioned that at a recent public audience at the Vatican he told a mother whose baby was crying but who was ashamed to nurse in the pope´s presence: "Please feed him!" He said he wants to tell all humanity to feed the hungry.

Francis also confirmed plans are proceeding for his Holy Land trip next year.