During a private conversation with bishops, Pope Francis reportedly made a highly offensive remark about gay people.
The Italian bishops’ conference recently held a meeting to discuss various topics, one of which was the possibility of allowing celibate gay men to receive training for priesthood at Catholic seminaries.
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According to reports, Pope Francis, who is 87 years old, has expressed his opposition to the idea, stating that although it is crucial to embrace everyone, there is a potential risk of individuals in the queer community leading a double life.
During a closed-door meeting in Rome last week, it was reported that he expressed concerns about the presence of offensive behavior in certain seminaries. He reportedly used an Italian slur, “frociaggine,” which roughly translates to “f*****ness” or buggery. This revelation was first reported by Italian tabloid news website Dasgopia on Monday.
Other reputable sources, such as Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera, as well as the news agency Adnkronos, have also reported on the matter. These sources have cited anonymous bishops who were present at the meeting.
According to Adnkronos, Pope Francis recently made a statement in Italian that has been translated as follows: “Look, there is already a negative atmosphere that is not good. There is a prevailing culture of homosexuality, which is why those with a homosexual orientation are better off not being accepted into the seminary.”
Boys who have a tendency to fall into sin find it challenging to resist temptation in the seminary. They enter the seminary with the belief that a life in priesthood can provide them with the necessary support, only to find themselves succumbing to temptation during their ministry work.
The Vatican has not yet provided any comments regarding the reports and has not responded to a request for comment from The Independent.
According to one individual familiar with the situation, it was suggested that Francis made the comment in a lighthearted manner, intending it to be taken as a joke. The sources quoted by Corriere della Sera stated that those in attendance were taken aback and puzzled by the alleged statement. They believed that the Pope, being a native Spanish speaker, may not have been aware of the offensive nature of the word he used.
Italian media reports that in a meeting held in November, the bishops made a decision to allow gay men to be admitted to seminaries as long as they commit to celibacy.
However, Pope Francis intervened and halted the decision. Throughout his tenure in the Vatican, Pope Francis has been highly acclaimed for his inclusive approach towards the LGBTQ+ community.
In a recent development, the Vatican released a document in December that garnered significant attention. In this document, Pope Francis officially granted permission for priests to bless same-sex couples. The document emphasized the importance of not subjecting individuals seeking God’s love and mercy to an exhaustive moral analysis in order to receive it. This announcement marks a significant step towards inclusion and acceptance within the Catholic Church.
In a document expanding on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals, which was published in October, the Pope suggested that blessings could be granted in certain situations as long as they do not blur the distinction between the ritual and the sacrament of marriage.
In January 2023, Francis criticized the existing laws in many countries that criminalize homosexuality, advocating for their abolition. In an interview with the Associated Press, Francis boldly stated, “Being homosexual isn’t a crime.”
In a surprising turn of events in late 2023, the Vatican released a statement affirming that transgender individuals could, under specific conditions, receive baptism as Catholics and actively participate as godparents.
Cardinal Vรญctor Manuel Fernรกndez, who leads the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, along with Francis, signed the document.
The document stated that a transgender person can receive baptism under the same conditions as other faithful, without causing scandal or “disorientation” among other Catholics.
The document also stated that transgender adults, who have undergone gender-transition surgery, may be eligible to serve as godfathers or godmothers, provided certain conditions are met.
The Vatican doctrine office issued a pronouncement that reverses the absolute bans on trans people serving as godparents, which were put in place in 2015.
