The Buzz | Ooops! Vatican seeks to quell Mexican anger over pope’s drug remark

The Vatican sought yesterday to defuse a diplomatic tiff with Mexico after Pope Francis referred to the possible “Mexicanization” of his native Argentina from drug trafficking, the latest instance of Francis’ casual speaking style getting him into trouble.
The Vatican said it had sent an official diplomatic note to Mexico’s ambassador insisting that Francis “absolutely did not intend to offend the Mexican people” with the remark, or to detract from the government’s anti-drug efforts.
Francis made the reference in an email over the weekend to an Argentine friend and lawmaker, Gustavo Vera, who is involved in combating the drug trade. He published the pope’s email on the website of his Alameda Foundation.
In the email, Francis wrote: “Hopefully we are in time to avoid Mexicanization.”