Pope Francis has apologized after news reports that he used a slur toward gay people during a private meeting earlier this month.
According to these reports, during the meeting, Pope Francis expressed his objection to gay men being admitted to Catholic seminaries. During this discussion, it is alleged that he used the word “frociaggine” in Italian, a derogatory term for gay people. He reportedly claimed that there were too many members of the LGBTQ+ community entering seminaries, which led to his use of the offensive term.
Italian news outlets La Repubblica, Corriere della Sera, and Adnkronos have cited sources confirming that Pope Francis used this term, leaving the attendees shocked and confused, as reported by The Guardian.
In response to these reports, Matteo Bruni, Director of the Holy See Press Office, told PEOPLE, “Pope Francis is aware of the articles that have recently been published about a conversation held behind closed doors with members of the Italian Bishops’ Conference. As he has had the opportunity to say on several occasions: ‘There is room for everyone, for everyone in the Church! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just in the way that we are, all of us.’ ”
Bruni added, “The Pope has never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who have felt offended by the use of a term, reported by others.”
These alleged comments from Pope Francis come just days after he clarified his position on blessing same-sex couples. This clarification followed his previous expression of openness to the idea, which he discussed during a 60 Minutes special on May 19.
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The pontiff in 2023. PHOTO: STEFANO COSTANTINO/SOPA IMAGES/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY
Pope Francis clarified during the interview, “What I allowed was not to bless the union. That cannot be done because that is not the sacrament. I cannot. The Lord made it that way. But to bless each person, yes. The blessing is for everyone. For everyone.”
He continued, “To bless a homosexual-type union, however, goes against the given right, the law of the Church. But to bless each person, why not? The blessing is for all. Some people were scandalized by this. But why? Everyone! Everyone!”
The interview followed the release of a document by the Vatican’s doctrine office in December 2023, granting Catholic priests permission to bless same-sex couples. This document was praised as a “major step forward” at the time.
In his initial response to questions on the subject two months earlier, the pope emphasized, “God never turns away anyone who approaches him! Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God. … It is a seed of the Holy Spirit that must be nurtured, not hindered.”
The pontiff’s stance evolved over time. He first declared his support for the civil unions of same-sex couples in October 2020, following comments he made in the documentary Francesco. Then, in March 2021, the Vatican articulated that while the Catholic community should welcome gay people with “respect and sensitivity,” their marriages and unions would not be received in the same manner.
