Amid allegations that Pope Francis used a derogatory term when speaking about gay priests during a meeting with Italian bishops, the Vatican has issued an apology. The specific comments, believed to have been made on May 20, were not officially documented or confirmed, but the reaction prompted the Pope to extend an apology through a Vatican spokesperson on Tuesday.
The apology was made public as recognition of the widespread media attention and criticism the remarks have attracted. “The pope never meant to cause hurt or to use language that was homophobic, and he is sorry to anyone who was insulted by terms that were attributed to him,” was the stance communicated by the spokesperson. While the statement did not confirm the use of the word, it did not deny it either, as reported by The Associated Press.
The source of the reports was initially gossip platforms such as Dagospia, later picked up by more established news outlets, claiming that the Pope, during discussions about gay seminarians, used the Italian term for “f****t.” Such reports, including one by NBC News, suggest the term used was pejorative and vulgar in nature.
This incident comes as a surprise to many who considered Pope Francis to be progressive and accepting of the LGBTQ+ community. His actions, such as blessing partnerships of gay individuals and welcoming transgender sex workers into the Vatican, have seemed to affirm this. However, his statement in an interview that “Being homosexual is not a crime” has contrasted with other official Vatican stances against gender-affirming surgeries and surrogacy, as reported by The Associated Press.
In his attempt to clarify, Vatican journalist Gerry O’Connell referred to the Pope’s comment as an oversight rather than an intentional insult, as mentioned in America Magazine.
The Vatican reaffirmed Pope Francis’s sentiment that the Church is inclusive, with the spokesperson quoting the Pope: “In the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone! No one is useless, no one is superflurous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.”
Despite these inclusive messages, the Pope in his recent engagement with Norah O’Donnell, clarified that while blessing individual members of the LGBTQ+ community is acceptable, blessing their unions is not, as it goes against the Church’s understanding of sacrament and law.
FAQ Section
Did Pope Francis use a homophobic slur?
It has been reported by Italian media that Pope Francis used a derogatory term for gay men in a conversation with Italian bishops. However, the Vatican did not confirm or deny the use of the specific term.
What did the Vatican say about the incident?
A spokesperson stated that the Pope did not intend to offend and that he extends his apologies to those who may have been offended by the term reported by others.
Has Pope Francis been considered accepting of the LGBTQ+ community?
Yes, Pope Francis has been seen as more liberal and accepting than his predecessors when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues, including advocating that “being homosexual is not a crime” and extending blessings to individuals in the community.
Can priests bless gay unions according to Pope Francis?
No, while Pope Francis supports blessing individuals from the LGBTQ+ community, he has stated that priests cannot bless gay unions because it goes against the teachings and law of the Church.