Pope Francis accused of repeating homophobic slur that prompted Vatican apology

Pope Francis once again faced allegations of using a highly offensive term to refer to gay men in a private meeting, just two weeks following an apology from the Vatican for his previous use of the same derogatory term, ‘NBC News’ report.

According to reports from the Italian news agency ANSA, Francis reportedly used the term during a meeting on a Tuesday afternoon, emphasising that while gay men should be welcomed in the church, they should not be allowed in seminaries. The alleged incident took place during a closed-door gathering with Roman priests at the Salesian Pontifical University.

Previous reports indicated that the pope had used this phrase in a closed meeting with bishops on May 20, leading to a rare apology from the Vatican “to those who were offended.”

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In response to inquiries regarding the recent accusation, the Vatican directed NBC News to a previous statement concerning the meeting with priests held on Tuesday. The statement highlighted the pope's stance on welcoming individuals with “homosexual tendencies” into the church but exercising caution regarding their admission to seminaries.

Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni indicated that there were no intentions of further elaborating on the matter. Vatican News covered the meeting but did not make mention of the discussions on homosexuality or the reported use of the offensive term by the pope.

Following the earlier controversy over his language in May, Bruni clarified that Pope Francis maintained a welcoming attitude towards all individuals within the Catholic faith, reiterating the inclusivity of the Church and expressing regret for any offence caused by his words.

Despite the pope's more progressive stance on LGBTQ+ issues, environmental concerns, and the role of women in the Catholic Church, the alleged remarks have garnered surprise given his reputation for holding more liberal views compared to some of his predecessors.

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