Pope allegedly used derogatory term for gay people

Pope Francis reportedly used highly derogatory language in a private meeting at the Italian Bishops’ Conference when asked if gay men should be allowed to train for the priesthood if they remained celibate. He stated they should not be permitted and allegedly used an offensive slur in Italian, which has shocked many given his previous public statements advocating respect towards gay people.

It is said that the Pope, speaking in Italian, said that there was, in the Church, already too much of an air of frociaggine, which translates as a highly offensive slur.

The Pope’s comments were initially reported by the Italian tabloid website Dagospia and have since been confirmed by other Italian news agencies citing multiple sources. This incident contrasts sharply with the Pope’s earlier stance, where he famously remarked, “Who am I to judge?” regarding gay people. 

The Spanish-speaking Pope’s defenders point out that he does sometimes make mistakes in Italian colloquialisms and suggest that he did not appreciate the level of offence he might have caused, even though he did grow up in an Italian-speaking household in Argentina.

Nevertheless, some outlets report that the Pope also said that gay people needed kicking out of seminaries whether they acted on their sexual tendencies or not.

The Vatican has yet to comment on the reported incident, leaving questions about the Pope’s true stance on gay rights within the Church.