Reports have emerged alleging that Pope Francis used a derogatory term towards the LGBT community while reiterating his stance against allowing gay individuals to become priests. According to Italian media sources, the Pope made the remark during a closed-door meeting with bishops, referring to priesthood colleges as already containing too many homosexual individuals, using the vulgar Italian term “frociaggine.”
The Vatican has not issued any official statement regarding these reports. The incident is said to have occurred during a private meeting between the Italian Bishops Conference and the Pope on May 20, as initially reported by the political gossip website Dagospia.
While La Repubblica based its story on unspecified sources, Corriere della Sera cited unnamed bishops who suggested that Pope Francis, being Argentine, may have been unaware that the term he used is offensive.
Despite these allegations, Pope Francis has been recognized for advocating a more inclusive approach towards the LGBT community within the Roman Catholic Church. Since the beginning of his papacy in 2013, he has made statements indicating a stance of non-judgment towards gay individuals seeking God with good intentions.
However, the Pope’s decision last year to permit priests to bless same-sex couples faced criticism from conservative factions within the Church. Moreover, in 2018, he advised Italian bishops to carefully evaluate priesthood applicants and reject any suspected homosexuals.
It’s worth noting that during the papacy of Benedict XVI in 2005, a Vatican document stated that individuals who had overcome homosexual tendencies for at least three years could be admitted to the priesthood. However, it also emphasized the exclusion of those with “deep-seated” gay inclinations or who supported what was termed the “gay culture.”
