Pope Francis issued an extraordinary apology on Tuesday following reports of his use of a gay slur during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops last week.
In a statement from the Vatican, it was emphasized that “the pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms and he extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, reported by others.”
The incident occurred during a meeting with over 250 bishops, where the 87-year-old pontiff reportedly used an offensive term while voicing his opposition to openly homosexual men joining priest training colleges, even if they committed to celibacy.
According to two Italian newspapers, Francis used the term “frociaggine,” a derogatory Roman slang translating to “faggotry,” to describe his concerns about the presence of homosexual men in seminaries.
The reports sparked global headlines and elicited dismay from LGBTQ groups and practising Catholics alike.
Some commentators speculated that the Argentine pope might not have fully understood the implications of the term he used.
While the Vatican statement did not confirm the exact word used, it acknowledged the newspaper articles that reported on the incident.
The statement reiterated the pope’s inclusive message, stating, “As he had the opportunity to state on several occasions: ‘In the Church there is room for everyone, everyone! Nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, there is space for everyone. Just as we are, all of us’.”
