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Bernie Sanders Plans Vatican Visit; Says He's A 'Big, Big Fan' Of Pope

WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has revealed that he's been invited to the Vatican.

Sanders said in an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Friday that he was very moved by the invitation.

Sanders says he plans to speak on social, economic and environmental issues at a conference held by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences. He says he plans to travel shortly after his planned April 14 debate with Democratic rival Hillary Clinton in Brooklyn.

Sanders says he would "very much like to" meet Pope Francis when he travels to the Vatican next week, but he has not received an official invitation from the Catholic leader.

Sanders is Jewish. He says he's a "big, big fan of the pope," although he says the pair has differences on some issues, like women's rights and gay rights, Sanders said.

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"He has played an unbelievable role -- an unbelievable role --of injecting moral consequence into the economy," Sanders said, praising the pontiff's efforts to bring awareness to global poverty among
'dispossessed' populations, like, Sanders said, the young and the elderly.

The Vermont senator says he respects the pope's statements bemoaning "the idolatry of money" in too many societies.

"He's talking about the idolatry of money, the worship of money, the greed that's out there," Sanders said.

Ecuadorean President Rafael Correa and Bolivian President Evo Morales will also be attending the conference.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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