Pope Francis did not mean to denigrate homosexuals when he used a controversial term about gay men in a private meeting this week, the Vatican said.
Pope Francis apologized for using harsh language about homosexuality during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops, The Vatican said in a statement Tuesday.
Italian news outlet Dagospia broke the news on Monday that Pope Francis told the Italian Episcopal Conference in a private meeting that there is already too much “f—–ness” in some seminaries and reaffirming that homosexuals should not be allowed to enter the priesthood.
Similar reports appeared in Italian outlets Corriere della Sera and La Repubblica following the alleged comments, which were not recorded.
“Pope Francis is aware of the articles that came out recently about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops of the CEI (Italian Episcopal Conference),” the Vatican said in a Tuesday statement.
The Vatican appeared to confirm the reports, but emphasized that the comment did not renege on Francis’ assertion that all people are called to the Church, regardless of their personal issues or sin.
