Rick Santorum -- Sorry, What I Meant Was ... I Can't Wait To Listen To The Pope

Rick Santorum is engaging in the time-honored political tradition of flip-flopping -- or so it sounded when we asked him about his beef with the Pope.

Our photog asked the ex-Senator and Republican candidate for prez ... about going on FOX News and calling out the Pope on climate change. Before we could get the full question out -- Santorum started gushing.

Check out the video ... Santorum's aggressive genuflecting makes you wonder if someone got a call from Vatican City.

Santorum also talks about an upcoming meeting with his Holiness. Suggested icebreaker for ya, Rick ... "How 'bout this weather we're having?"