The Vatican has issued an apology following outrage over reports that Pope Francis used extremely homophobic language towards gay men.
A statement from the Vatican said the Pope did not intend to offend anyone and apologised to those who were “hurt by the use of a word”.
At the Italian Bishops’ Conference, the pope allegedly said gay men should not be permitted to train for the priesthood, adding there was already an air of frociaggine, which is an offensive Italian slur.
While this meeting was in private, it has been widely reported.
“Pope Francis is aware of the articles that have come out recently concerning a conversation he had with bishops behind closed doors,” the statement quoted the director of the Holy See – the Catholic Church’s governing body – Matteo Bruni, as saying.
There has been outrage about the reported language used by Pope Francis especially as he has often spoken publicly of being respectful towards gay people.
Mr Bruni said: “As he has stated on more than one occasion, “In the Church, there is room for everyone, everyone! Nobody is useless or superfluous, there is room for everyone, just the way we are.”
“The Pope never meant to offend or to use homophobic language, and apologises to everyone who felt offended or hurt by the use of a word,” Mr Buni added.
Progressive supporters of the Pope have argued that while the Church still maintains its conservatism towards gay rights in Catholicism, he has managed to change the tone of the Church’s attitude.
Others have also jumped to his defence saying that he sometimes makes mistakes in Italian colloquialisms, suggesting that he did not appreciate the level of harm he might have caused, even though he did grow up in an Italian-speaking household in Argentina.
When previously asked about homosexual people, he made the headlines by responding, “Who am I to judge?”
There was similar outrage amongst Catholic conservatives after he agreed that priests should be able to bless same-sex couples in some circumstances and has often spoken of gay people being welcome in the Church.