Pope denies inviting Rome's mayor to Philadelphia

Rome, Sep 29 (IANS/AKI) Pope Francis did not invite Rome's Mayor Ignazio Marino to a meeting of families in Philadelphia, US, the Pope has said.

"I did not invite Mayor Marino," the Pope said. "I asked the organisers and they did not invite him either... He says he's Catholic. He came of his own accord."

Marino later issued a statement denying reports he had claimed the pontiff had invited him to the event.

Held on Sunday on the final day of the Pope's five-day visit to the US. It ended with an open-air mass at the city's central boulevard, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

"The mayor's visit to Philadelphia arose from a series of meetings he held with officials from its city council," said the statement.