Priest Burns Benedict Photo In Sunday Mass: Former Pope 'Abandoned His Flock' Italian Reverend Andrea Maggi Told His Congregation

A priest burned a Pope Benedict photo in Sunday Mass this week, in protest of the former pope's abdication.

Rev. Andrea Maggi from Santo Stefano Protomartire church in the Northern Italian village of Castel Vittorio, told his congregation on Sunday that Pope Benedict XVI was like Francesco Schettino, the cruise ship captain that abandoned his vessel when it capsized off the Italian coast. The passengers were all later rescued.

Shortly before his cruise ship captain burns, the priest reportedly had torched a Pope Benedict photo.

"It was wonderful," Rev. Maggi told La Repubblica daily.

Mayor Gian Stefano Orengo told an Italian radio the action had prompted half of the congregation to walk out, according to Reuters.

"Before starting the homily, the priest took the photo of the pope and he said this is not a pope, this is not a shepherd, he abandoned his flock," Orengo said.

The Mayor added that the burns to the Pope Benedicts photo were inflicted with a candle.

Pope Benedict XVI served as the 265th pope from 2005 to 2013.

Orengo claimed he will alert church authorities about the fact they have a local priest that burns Benedict photos.

He said Rev. Andrea Maggi is currently in a "fragile" state of mind.