Vatican invites Bernie Sanders to speak on 'moral economy'

NEW YORK, April 8 (UPI) -- Bernie Sanders has been invited to discuss building a "moral economy" at the Vatican, the Democratic presidential candidate has announced.

During his appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe Friday, Sanders confirmed the summons, saying he was "very moved by the invitation," despite differing views with Pope Francis.

"I am a big, big fan of the Pope -- obviously there are areas that we disagree on, women's rights or gay rights -- but he has played an unbelievable role of injecting a moral consequence into the economy," Sanders said.

"People think Bernie Sanders is radical," he continued. "Read what the Pope is writing."

Sanders has long championed economic reform, advocating for an economy "that works for all people rather than the top one percent."

"He's talking about the idolatry of money, the worship of money, the greed that's out there," Sanders said of the Pope. "He's trying to inject the sense of morality of how we do economics...and we need that absolutely, desperately." Sanders did not confirm whether he will in fact speak at the Vatican.