Pope Francis Under Fire for 'Mexicanization' Comment

The Vatican is receiving criticism from Mexico after Pope Francis recently referenced the "Mexicanization" of Argentina due to drug trafficking.

The pontiff made his off-the-cuff remarks in an email to a personal friend in Argentina, who in turn published the email on a local website. In the email, Francis warned that Argentina must tighten its security on drug trafficking to prevent "Mexicanization."

"Hopefully we're in time to avoid the Mexicanization. I was talking to some Mexican bishops and it's a terrible situation," the email, written to Francis' friend Gustavo Vera, read.

Mexico issued a complaint to the pope's comments, arguing that it is working hard to combat the drug trade and the pope's words against the country do not help the process.

On Wednesday, the Vatican issued a statement saying Pope Francis "absolutely did not intend to offend the Mexican people" with his recent comments.

"The expression 'avoiding Mexicanization' was used by the pope in a strictly private and informal email, in reply to an Argentinian friend, who is very involved in the fight against drugs and who had used this phrase," Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said in a statement.

"The pope intended only to emphasize the seriousness of the phenomenon of the drug trafficking that afflicts Mexico and other countries in Latin America," Lombardi said. "It is precisely this importance that has made the fight against drug trafficking a priority for the government."

Francis has previously received criticism for making off-the-cuff remarks that can be interpreted in different ways.