Why does the Pope act as if he is a closet atheist ?

😅 .. On a serious note though.. Not sure why are many people impressed with what he said.... I mean, saying that it is better to be an atheist rather than Christian hypocrite, I feel it is as if he is implying that atheists are the worst ever so in order to teach his fellow Christians that being hypocrite is bad, he has preferred atheism (a very bad thing) over it! I don't think he meant to compliment atheists as a matter of fact, I don't see what's his point, what do atheists have to do with his argument over some Christians who are hypocrite?!