Pope Francis Apologizes For Using Anti-Gay Slur During Closed-Door Meeting With Bishops

Pope Francis apologized after reportedly using a homophobic slur while reaffirming his opposition to gay people being allowed in the priesthood during a private meeting with bishops.

The controversial remark was made during a private meeting with Italian bishops on May 20, potentially impacting the pontiff’s reputation for relative tolerance toward the LGBTQ+ community.

During the meeting, the Pope used the word “frociaggine,” translated as “fa**otry” or “fa**otness,” according to Reuters and CNN's translation of articles from La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera. The pontiff was reportedly arguing that gay people should be barred from becoming priests.

La Repubblica cited unspecified sources following an initial report by a political gossip site, while Corriere stated that unnamed bishops confirmed the incident, according to Reuters. Some clergymen suggested that the pope, speaking in Italian, a second language for him, might not have realized the term's insensitivity.

The Vatican later issued the following statement apologizing for the Pope's language:

“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, as reported by others."

But many were not buying the Pope's apology.

The Pope's comment came as a surprise because he is known for his more liberal views compared to many of his predecessors, particularly regarding the LGBTQ+ community, the role of women in the Catholic Church, and environmental issues.

For instance, last December he formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. At the time, he said that people should not be subject to "an exhaustive moral analysis" if they wish to seek out God's love.

In August, he also stated that the Catholic Church is open to everyone, including the gay community. The Pope did note however that "there are laws that regulate life inside the church."