After reports circulated internationally about Pope Francis appearing to use a crude Italian slang term to refer to homosexuality in Catholic seminaries, the Vatican has tried to calm the resulting furore and said the Pope meant no offence and apologises for any caused, though the statement does not actually admit that he used the controversial term.
In statement released on 28 May, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: “Pope Francis is aware of the articles published recently about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops of CEI [referring to the Italian Episcopal Conference].”
Bruni said the Pope reiterated his previous statements that “in the Church there is space for everyone, for everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is space for all. Just as we are, everyone”.
He added: “The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others."
Pope Francis and the Vatican have faced enormous pressure in recent days after a report was published in the Italian blog <em>Dagospia</em>, roughly the country’s equivalent of the <em>Drudge Report</em>, stating that the <a href="https://catholicherald.co.uk/pope-appears-to-use-crude-slang-to-criticise-gay-culture-in-seminaries/?swcfpc=1"><mark style="background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)" class="has-inline-color has-vivid-cyan-blue-color">Pope had used an off-colour slang term referring to homosexuals in seminaries</mark></a> during a recent session with members of CEI.
On 20 May, Francis addressed the spring plenary assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference in the Vatican’s synod hall, speaking behind closed doors to some 230 bishops, as well as to other clergy and supporting staff.
Though Francis’s meetings with CEI are typically held privately, meaning the Vatican doesn’t release an official transcript, several days after the meeting news leaked that the Pope had addressed the issue of admitting homosexual men to Catholic seminaries.
According to the reports, the Pope urged caution on this front, saying there was too much <em>frociaggine</em> in seminaries, an Italian slang term loosely meaning “faggotry”.
The reports generated immediate backlash against the Pope. There was shock that a pope famous for the utterance “Who am I to judge?”, in relation to homosexual behaviour, and who has been seen as a champion of LGBT inclusion in the Catholic Church, apparently used such crude terms.
While the Vatican’s statement took ownership of the fallout and involved an apology, it stopped short of admitting that Pope Francis had used the term <em>frociaggine</em>, meaning there is still no formal acknowledgement from the Vatican of the Pope’s use of the controversial slang term.
His apparent remark comes as CEI, grappling with a worrying vocations crisis, is evaluating a new set admissions guidelines for seminaries, a draft of which draws a distinction between sexual orientation and active behaviour in potential candidates. <br><em><br>Photo: Pope Francis addresses pilgrims during his weekly general audience in St .Peter's Square at the Vatican, Rome, 22 May 2024. (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images.)</em>
