Pope Francis apologized after reports that he used a derogatory term about gay men while reaffirming the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops, Associated Press reports.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni acknowledged the media backlash and stated that Francis did not intend to offend, apologizing to those who were hurt by the term’s use. Bruni did not confirm or deny the specific term used. The incident occurred as the Italian bishops approved a new training document for seminarians, which sought to focus on celibacy rather than sexual orientation. This reaffirmation of the 2005 Vatican ban on gay priests has been criticized for being homophobic and hypocritical.
Despite Francis’ history of outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, his remarks have occasionally caused offense, such as implying that while homosexuality isn’t a crime, it is a sin. LGBTQ+ advocacy group New Ways Ministry welcomed the apology but called for clearer statements on the acceptance of gay men in the seminars.
