The Vatican has yet to comment after it was reported that Pope Francis used “extremely homophobic language” after being asked at the Italian Bishops’ Conference if gay men should now be allowed to train for the priesthood as long as they remained celibate.
Pope Francis said they should not and he is then believed to have continued by saying in Italian that there was, in the Church, already too much of an air of frociaggine, which translates as a highly offensive slur.
Although it was a meeting that happened behind closed doors, the Pope’s reported comments were first conveyed to the Italian tabloid website Dagospia.
Other Italian news agencies have since confirmed the Pope’s words citing numerous sources.
The incident has come of a shock to many, particularly as Pope Francis has often talked publicly of being respectful towards gay people.
Progressive supporters of the Pope have long argued that while little has tangibly changed in terms of gay rights in Catholicism, Pope Francis has changed the tone of the Church’s attitude.
When asked about gay people early in his papacy, he hit the headlines by responding, “Who am I to judge?”
He recently created consternation among Catholic traditionalists by saying priests should be able to bless same-sex couples in some circumstances and has frequently talked of gay people being welcome in the Church.
Some had started to feel that he was laying the groundwork to ultimately permit gay men to train for the priesthood, as long as they remained celibate like other priests.
