May 28th 2024.
According to reports from two major Italian newspapers, Pope Francis has been accused of making a homophobic statement during a private meeting with Italian bishops last week. The 87-year-old pontiff allegedly advised the bishops to not allow gay men to enter the priesthood, using a derogatory term that translates to "faggotry" in English.
Sources from inside the meeting claim that the Pope made these remarks while discussing proposed changes to guidelines for seminary candidates. It is worth noting that the church has a long-standing policy against ordaining actively gay men or those with strong homosexual tendencies, a rule that was reaffirmed by Francis in 2016.
However, two years later, the Pope reportedly went a step further and urged the Italian bishops to reject any gay candidates for the priesthood. This stance seems to contradict his previous statements about LGBTQ+ Catholics, including his famous response of "who am I to judge?" when asked about gay priests. He has also suggested the possibility of priests offering blessings for same-sex couples.
The Italian newspapers suggest that the Pope may not have been aware of how hurtful his language was, as he was speaking in his second language, Italian. They also claim that his comment was met with laughter from the bishops, who were likely taken aback by his bluntness.
A source close to the Pope has offered a different interpretation of his words, suggesting that he may have been referring to a "gay climate" within the seminaries rather than using a derogatory term. However, as there is no official transcript of the meeting, it is impossible to confirm exactly what was said.
CNN has reached out to the Vatican for comment on the allegations, but has not yet received a response. It is unclear whether the Pope will address the issue publicly or clarify his stance on gay men in the priesthood.
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