Donald Trump just flung this insane rant at Pope Francis — and maybe just lost the presidency

[herding cats]

11. Trump vs. Pope Francis

It's worth noting the pontiff addressed Congress last year and spoke of this very thing.

3. A call for the country to open its arms to immigrants and refugees: "I think of the march which Martin Luther King led from Selma to Montgomery 50 years ago as part of the campaign to fulfill his 'dream' of full civil and political rights for African-Americans. That dream continues to inspire us all. I am happy that America continues to be, for many, a land of 'dreams'. ... In recent centuries, millions of people came to this land to pursue their dream of building a future in freedom. We, the people of this continent, are not fearful of foreigners, because most of us were once foreigners. I say this to you as the son of immigrants, knowing that so many of you are also descended from immigrants." ...

"Our world is facing a refugee crisis of a magnitude not seen since the Second World War. This presents us with great challenges and many hard decisions. On this continent, too, thousands of persons are led to travel north in search of a better life for themselves and for their loved ones, in search of greater opportunities. Is this not what we want for our own children? ... Let us remember the Golden Rule: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. ... The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us."

His reference to the Golden Rule was Francis' biggest applause line. Members of Congress didn't even let him get out the rule itself before giving him a standing ovation.
http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/09/24/443081898/the-10-most-political-moments-in-pope-francis-address-to-congress

Which went over about as expected with the RW.

Conservatives Trash The Pope After His Speech To Congress

It'll be interesting to see how this plays out with Trumps fans, but I'm not willing to bet my money it will generate any substantial blow back within his fan base.

What it could do is create more of a tool for the other candidates to use to make themselves stand out. Rubio will use it to make him seem more appealing, but Cruz already took the Pope on over the death penalty, so not sure he'll get as much mileage out of it as Rubio stands to.