Pope Francis issues apology for derogatory language used in meeting with bishops
Recent reports revealed that during a private meeting, Pope Francis used insensitive language when discussing the eligibility of gay men for priesthood training. The pontiff has expressed regret for his remarks, emphasizing inclusivity and respect towards individuals of all orientations.
Pope Francis expressed regret for using a derogatory term towards the LGBTQ+ community in a recent meeting with bishops. During the closed-door session, the 87-year-old pontiff mentioned that he believes gay men should not be permitted to pursue priesthood training.
The Vatican stated on Tuesday that the Pope did not mean to offend or use homophobic language. They also mentioned that the Pope apologizes to those who were offended by the term reported by others.
The Vatican further explained that Pope Francis has consistently emphasized that everyone is welcome in the Church. He has reiterated that there is a place for everyone, emphasizing that no one is insignificant or unnecessary. The message is clear: everyone is accepted just as they are.
The Pope's remarks were brought to public attention on Monday by two Italian newspapers - the Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica. They reported on a meeting that took place on May 20, citing sources who were present.
According to the translated newspaper articles, the Pope allegedly mentioned the presence of "frociaggine" in certain seminaries, which translates to "faggotry" in English.
Francis’ comments were made in the context of proposals from the Italian bishops to amend guidelines on candidates to seminaries.
A view of St. Peter’s during a mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the first World Children’s Day on May 26, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican.
A view of St. Peter’s during a mass celebrated by Pope Francis on the first World Children’s Day on May 26, 2024 in Vatican City, Vatican.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images
In 2005, the Vatican decided that the church cannot ordain men who are openly gay or have strong homosexual inclinations. Pope Francis supported this decision in 2016.
Following this, two years later, he advised the Italian bishops to refrain from accepting gay individuals as candidates for the priesthood.
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Pope Francis leads the Angelus prayer from his window, at the Vatican, December 17, 2023. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
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The Pope's approval of same-sex blessings is a significant milestone for gay Catholics. Throughout his time as Pope, he has shown a more inclusive attitude towards LGBTQ+ Catholics. He famously said, "who am I to judge?" when questioned about gay priests. Additionally, he has suggested that priests could provide informal blessings for same-sex couples.
The Corriere della Sera newspaper mentioned that the Argentine pope, who uses Italian as a second language, might not have realized how offensive his words were. The bishops reportedly reacted with laughter.
A source close to the Pope shared with CNN that the phrase could also be interpreted as referring to a "gay climate" in the seminaries.
There is no official transcript of the comments due to the nature of the closed-door meeting.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
Editor's P/S:
Pope Francis' recent comments regarding gay men and the priesthood have sparked controversy within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. While the Vatican has attempted to clarify the Pope's intentions, stating that he did not intend to use homophobic language, his words have caused offense and disappointment. The Pope's stance on homosexuality remains unchanged, as he has previously supported the Vatican's decision to bar openly gay or strongly homosexual-inclined men from ordination.
It is important to note that the Pope's comments were made in the context of proposals from Italian bishops to amend guidelines on seminary candidates. It is possible that the Pope's use of the derogatory term was intended to emphasize his concerns about the presence of a "gay climate" in seminaries, rather than to make a general statement about gay men. However, the lack of an official transcript of the comments and the fact that they were reported by those present make it difficult to determine his exact intentions.
