VATICAN CITY. Pope Francis issued an apology on Tuesday following a controversy over his use of a vulgar term about gay men while discussing the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests. The apology came after Italian media reported that the Pope used the term “faggotness” during a private meeting with Italian bishops on May 20.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni addressed the media storm, acknowledging the reports and clarifying the Pope’s intentions. “The pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term that was reported by others,” Bruni stated.
The comments were made in a closed-door session with the Italian bishops’ conference, which recently approved a new document on the training of seminarians. The document, pending review by the Holy See, reportedly aimed to revisit the Vatican’s strict ban on ordaining gay men.
The controversial term was reportedly used by Francis in a joking manner to reaffirm the Vatican’s 2005 and 2016 positions, which prohibit the ordination of men who “practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture.” Italian media quoted unnamed bishops who attended the meeting.
Bruni emphasized that Pope Francis, known for his outreach to LGBTQ+ Catholics, has always promoted inclusivity within the Church. “He has long insisted there was ‘room for everyone’ in the Catholic Church,” Bruni said.
Francis, who often speaks informally and uses colloquial language, has a history of linguistic slips. The 87-year-old Argentine pontiff, whose first language is Spanish, has previously made remarks that have drawn attention for their unintended implications.
Despite this incident, Pope Francis has been recognized for his efforts to build bridges with the LGBTQ+ community, famously stating, “Who am I to judge?” in 2013 regarding a priest’s past gay relationship.
This latest incident highlights the ongoing tension within the Church regarding LGBTQ+ issues and the Vatican’s stance on homosexuality.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
