Defenders rally around pope, fear conservatives escalating war
![](https://r58b8e.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/worldnewsdyil2auoc8za.gif?time=1719640829)
Supporters of Pope Francis have rushed to his defense after a former top Vatican official launched an unprecedented attack on him, a move they say dangerously escalates a campaign to weaken his papacy by conservatives who condemn him as too liberal.