Pope cancels Easter mass for politicians

Pope Francis
 Vatican City - Pope Francis will not to hold an Easter Mass for Italian MPS this year despite a huge turn-out for the service last year, a senior clergyman said Thursday.
     More than 500 MPs and senators flocked to St. Peter's Basilica on March 27 last year even though they had to be present by 6 a.m. to attend the Mass. 
     But this year Francis has "renounced" holding a repeat service, Monsignor Lorenzo Leussi, chaplain at the Chamber of Deputies, said.
     No reason for not holding the Mass for the MPs was given but after last year's service some politicians who attended complained about what they considered the "excessive severity" the pope displayed in his homily in which he lashed out at the "ruling class" who had "distanced themselves from the people" and "shut themselves up in their own group, party and internal struggles".
    Francis also lambasted "the corrupt" for whom "there is no salvation".
    During his homily Francis denounced also those he called "men with good manners but bad habits" -- a phrase that Italian President Sergio Mattarella cited in his inaugural speech to Parliament.