Staff Reports
In a private meeting with Italian bishops, Pope Francis reportedly made offensive comments about gay men and reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests. The incident occurred during a gathering where the Pope used a derogatory term in Italian to describe gay people, causing backlash from the public. The Vatican spokesman, Matteo Bruni, issued a statement apologizing for the Pope’s remarks, emphasizing that he did not mean to offend anyone with his words.
This controversy emerged shortly after the Italian Bishops’ Conference had approved a new document proposing changes to the training of Italian seminarians, aiming to relax the Vatican’s ban on gay priests. This ban, established in 2005 and reaffirmed in 2016, has now become a subject of dispute within the Catholic Church.
Pope Francis apologizes for using a homophobic slur during a meeting with bishopshttps://t.co/5rXWQ7uq2I
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) May 28, 2024
Pope Francis, previously known for his support of LGBT inclusion in the Church, had even sanctioned the blessing of same-sex relationships last year. However, this recent incident has sparked criticism and raised questions about his stance on LGBTQ issues.
