The Vatican has apologised after the Pope used a highly offensive term towards gay men.
In a statement, it said: “Pope Francis is aware of the articles recently published about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops of the CEI.
“As he stated on several occasions, ‘In the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone! Nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, all of us.’
“The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended by the use of a term reported by others.”
The Pope allegedly used the homosexual slur as he urged Italian bishops to prevent gay men from training for the priesthood.
Italian newspapers Corriere della Sera and La Republic cited sources from inside the meeting reporting Francis had lamented about widespread “frociaggine” in seminaries.
The term translates to the English “faggotry” and is believed to have been used in the context of bishops proposing changes to the admission guidelines for new prospective priests.
The issue is not new for the Vatican and the Pope himself in 2016 upheld a ruling from 2005 stating that the Church cannot allow the ordination of actively gay men or of individuals with “deep-seated” homosexual tendencies.
He reiterated his position on the admission of homosexuals into the priesthood in 2018, when he told Italian bishops not to accept gay candidates for the seminaries.
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