ROME (AP) — A Roman Catholic diocese in Sicily publicly apologized to outraged dad and mom following its bishop advised a team of youngsters that Santa Claus doesn’t exist.

In a Fb submit and subsequent responses Friday, the diocese of Noto insisted that Bishop Antonio Stagliano did not signify to sprint the goals of the children two months right before Christmas.

The diocesan communications director, the Rev. Alessandro Paolino, mentioned Stagliano was seeking to underline the legitimate indicating of Christmas and the tale of St. Nicholas, a bishop who gave items to the very poor and was persecuted by a Roman emperor.

Italian news reports quoted Stagliano as saying in the course of a the latest religious festival that Santa doesn’t exist and that his crimson costume was created by the Coca-Cola company for publicity.

“First of all, on behalf of the bishop, I convey my sorrow for this declaration which has created disappointment in the tiny kinds, and want to specify that Monsignor Stagliano‘s intentions were fairly unique,” Paolino wrote on the diocesan Facebook web site.

“We certainly ought to not demolish the creativity of small children, but draw excellent illustrations from it that are favourable for lifetime,” he ongoing. “So Santa Claus is an productive picture to express the value of giving, generosity, sharing. But when this image loses its indicating, you see Santa Claus aka consumerism, the want to possess, invest in, invest in and get yet again, then you have to revalue it by supplying it a new this means.”

But, if the community feedback area of the Noto website page ended up any sign, the Sicilian mom and dad weren’t possessing any of it.

Though many welcomed the bishop’s try to emphasis on the Catholic which means of Christmas, other people faulted Stagliano for interfering with household traditions and celebrations, and crushing the spirits of children whose early many years have been disrupted by the pandemic.

“You are the demonstration that, when it comes to families, little ones and household schooling, you never have an understanding of a matter,” a commenter, determined as Mary Avola, wrote.