Pope Francis Laments His Phony 'Friends'

Pope Francis might be one of the most popular pontiffs in recent memory, but his fame comes at a price. "I have felt used by people who presented themselves as my friends and whom I hadn't seen more than once or twice in my life. They have used that to their own benefit," Francis said during a recent interview with an Argentine radio station, per AFP. "Friendship in the utilitarian sense—let's see what advantage I can gain by getting close to this person and becoming friends—that pains me," he added, noting, "Friendship is something sacred. The Bible says to have one or two friends."

Speaking of friends, Francis went on to note that humans are no great pals of the environment. "Sometimes we treat it like our worst enemy," he said. "Think of deforestation, misuse of water, methods of extracting minerals with elements like arsenic and cyanide that end up making people sick." Francis will likely bring up similar ideas during his visit to the US next week. President Obama will greet the pope upon his arrival on Sept. 22, reports the AP. Celebrities including Aretha Franklin, Andrea Bocelli, and Mark Wahlberg will then entertain him at various stops during his visit, per the AP. (More Pope Francis stories.)