Ivereigh also wrote that the Pope had told him, contrary to some media reports, that he had not referred to Cardinal Burke as his “enemy.”
According to an anonymous Vatican source The New Daily CompassPope Francis stated at the meeting of Vatican dicastery heads on November 20: “Cardinal Burke is my enemy, that is why I am taking away his apartment and his salary.”
In his web post, Ivereigh notes that he doubts the veracity of that report, noting: “I knew this quote was pure fiction. Pope Francis would never carry out personal revenge. It was conveniently in line with the traditionalist narrative of a ruthless and vengeful Pope, who recklessly and unreasonably ‘punishes’ those who disagree with him.”
Ivereigh indicated that he “had written Pope Francis a note alerting him to this quote and offering to correct it with the truth as he told me,” and that he had received a clear denial from the Holy Father.