Very dubious claim, especially given that there is absolutely nothing related to religion mentioned in Dante’s sentence above, and that both Dante and the podes

Very dubious claim, especially given that there is absolutely nothing related to religion mentioned in Dante’s sentence above, and that both Dante and the podestà belonged to the same party (Guelfi), but to opposed factions. Despite referring to the Pope or the Emperor, it is my understanding that the division between Guelfi and Ghibellini, or Guelfi Bianchi and Guelfi Neri, were almost exclusively based on political interests and being able to control power (see for example https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/ghibellini-e-guelfi-in-italia_%28Federiciana%29/ https://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/ghibellini-e-guelfi-in-...)