{"id":22617,"date":"2024-06-04T11:25:40","date_gmt":"2024-06-04T15:25:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/?p=22617"},"modified":"2024-06-04T11:25:40","modified_gmt":"2024-06-04T15:25:40","slug":"pope-francis-apologizes-for-using-slur-in-reference-to-gay-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/news\/2024\/06\/pope-francis-apologizes-for-using-slur-in-reference-to-gay-men","title":{"rendered":"Pope Francis Apologizes For Using Slur In Reference to Gay Men"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Muhammad Aamir Sumsum\/Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pope Francis recently issued an apology for using a derogatory term referring to gay men during a closed-door discussion among bishops. Director of the Vatican press office Matteo Bruni said, \u201cThe Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of the term.\u201d During the meeting with Italian bishops at the Vatican, there was a discussion of whether to admit gay men to Catholic seminaries in preparation for the priesthood.<\/p>\n

Italian media reported that multiple people present at the meeting disclosed that Francis opposed the idea, saying there was already too much \u201cfrociaggine<\/em>\u201d in seminaries.\u00a0Frociaggine<\/em>\u00a0is a highly offensive slang term in Italian, referring to gay men and gay male culture. The controversy is the latest in a series of moves that many LGBTQ Catholics view as sending mixed messages. Earlier this year, the Vatican issued a document titled\u00a0Infinite Dignity<\/em>, referring to what it called \u201csex change\u201d and \u201cgender theory\u201d as grave threats. But late last year, Pope Francis issued guidance that allowed priests to bless people in same-sex relationships, although not to bless the relationship itself.<\/p>\n