Pope Francis issued an apology Tuesday after Italian media claimed he used an anti-gay slur during a closed-door meeting with bishops about the church allowing gay men to become priests.
Italian media claimed the Pope used the slur while speaking with bishops about the church’s ban on ... [+]
The Pope, 87, “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms,” the Vatican said in a statement, adding he “extends his apologies to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others.”
Two Italian outlets, Corriere della Sera and La Reppublica, claimed the Pope used the term “frociaggine”—which translates in English to “faggotness,” according to the Associated Press—while meeting with bishops on May 20.
The word was allegedly used as Francis considered proposals from bishops about amending the church’s guidelines for candidates to seminaries, the outlets reported.
Francis is “aware” of reports claiming he used the word, according to the Vatican, which reiterated a previous statement from the Pope indicating “there is room for everyone” in the Catholic Church.
In 2016, Francis upheld a ban on men who “practice homosexuality” or present “deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture” from becoming priests.
This is a developing story and will be updated.