Pope Francis has again used a homophobic term after apologising in May for saying gay men should not be admitted to Church seminaries because “there’s already too much f*****ry”.
He used of the word ‘frociaggine’, a vulgar Italian term roughly translating as ‘f*****ness’, on May 20 during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops.
According to Italian news agency ANSA, the Pope repeated the term on Tuesday, June 11 as he met Roman Catholic priests, saying “there is an air of f*****ness in the Vatican”.
He added that it was better that young men with a homosexual tendency not be allowed to enter the seminary – a college that trains students to become priests.
Asked about the latest report, the Vatican’s press office made reference to a statement it had issued regarding the meeting with the priests, in which the pope reiterated the need to welcome gay people into the Church and the need for caution regarding them becoming seminarians.
After the first report of him using the word, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera quoted unnamed bishops who were in the room as suggesting that the pope, as an Argentine, might not have realised that the Italian term he used was offensive.
The Pope had been credited with making moves towards being more welcoming of the LGBTQ+ community during his 11-year papacy.
Some observers of the Vatican say his recent missteps undermine his authority and raise questions about his convictions and the reform path he has in mind for the Church.