On Tuesday, the Vatican issued an apology following controversy over reports suggesting that Pope Francis used a derogatory term to refer to the LGBT community during a private meeting with Italian bishops. The Vatican clarified that the Pope did not intend to use homophobic language.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni stated that the Pope never meant to offend or express himself in homophobic terms. He offered apologies to those who felt offended by the reported use of a term by others.
The incident allegedly occurred during a closed-door meeting on May 20 and was reported by Italian media. It was claimed that Pope Francis used the Italian term "frociaggine," which translates to "faggotness" or "faggotry."
The reports sparked significant backlash, prompting the Vatican to emphasize that Pope Francis remains committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming Church, where everyone is valued.
The controversial remarks were made during an assembly of the Italian bishops conference, where discussions on a new document regarding training for seminarians were underway. This document aims to introduce some flexibility to the Vatican's strict ban on gay priests.
The Vatican's position on this matter is based on a 2005 document that prohibits the admission of men to seminaries or ordination if they "practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies, or support the so-called gay culture."
During the meeting, Pope Francis reportedly made a light-hearted comment about "faggotness" in seminaries, which was perceived as inappropriate by many.
Despite this incident, Pope Francis has been recognized for his outreach to the LGBT community during his papacy. In 2013, he famously stated, "Who am I to judge?" regarding gay individuals seeking God. Last year, he permitted priests to bless same-sex couples, a decision that generated both support and criticism.
