Pope Francis has apologized over his reported use of a gay slur in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops last week.
According to a statement from the Vatican the Pope did not mean to offend anyone. He, therefore, apologized to those who were “hurt by the use of a word”.
The statement maintained that, “The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms. He, therefore, extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, reported by others.
Report had stated that during a meeting with more than 250 bishops last week, the 87-year-old pontiff was said to have used an offensive term while expressing his opposition to openly homosexual men joining training colleges for priests, even if they ARE committed to celibacy.
According to two Italian newspapers, Francis said there was already too much “frociaggine” in seminaries, using an offensive Roman term which translates as “faggotry”.
The reports made headlines around the world which sparked reactions from both LGTBQ groups and practicing Catholics.
But some commentators, have, however, suggested that Pope Francis did not know what he was saying.
However, the Vatican statement did not confirm if the Pope used the word. It only referenced newspaper articles.
“As he had the opportunity to state on several occasions: ‘In the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone! Nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, and there is space for everyone. Just as we are, all of us,” the statement said.
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