Pope Francis apologizes for expressing himself in homophobic terms

Pope Francis has apologized to those who felt offended by his recent statements in a meeting with bishops, in which he stated that “there was already a lot of ‘faggot’ in the seminaries.” The Vatican press office published this Tuesday that the pontiff “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms.”

“Pope Francis is aware of the recently published articles about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops of the Italian Episcopal Conference (CEI) and as he stated on several occasions: “In the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, all of us,” the Vatican note reads.

And he adds: “The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, referred to by other people.”

This Tuesday, articles in the Italian media caused controversy and confusion in which it was stated that the Pope had referred to the fact that “there was already a lot of faggot (or faggot)” to defend the position of not admitting homosexuals in the seminaries, during the closed-door meeting at the CIS assembly

Apparently, the pope’s use of the word – derogatory in Italian – ‘frocciagine’ (faggot) during the meeting with the Italian bishops on May 20 had been published a couple of days ago on the Dagospia website, which publishes alleged informative exclusives. , but this Monday some Italian media such as “Corriere della Sera” and “Repubblica” confirmed the term with some bishops present.

The issue of whether and to what extent to admit openly homosexual candidates into the seminaries was being discussed, and Francis, although he reiterated as always the need to welcome everyone, was very rigid on the matter, reiterating his refusal to admit them, as he has already reiterated. the Church on several occasions.

According to the newspaper ‘La Repubblica’, which cites several anonymous sources who agree with his version, the Pope jokingly said that “there was already a lot of faggot” in the seminaries.

“Corriere della Sera” explains that according to those present consulted “more than embarrassment, the phrase was received with some incredulous laughter” and that “it was evident that the pope was not aware of how offensive that word is in Italian.”

The Pope thus wanted to reiterate the position of the Church with an instruction from the Dicastery of the Clergy that in 2005, with Benedict XVI, and confirmed in 2016 with Francis, established that “the Church, deeply respecting the people in question, cannot admit into the seminary and in the Holy Orders to those who practice homosexuality, have deeply rooted homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture.

During his pontificate, the pope also had to publicly apologize for reprimanding a Chinese woman on Tuesday who abruptly grabbed his hand and pushed him towards her, when he greeted the faithful in St. Peter’s Square in 2020.

“Many times we lose patience, me too. “I apologize for yesterday’s bad example,” Francis said from the window of the apostolic palace moments before the Angelus prayer.