Pope Francis Apologizes Following Firestorm Over LGBTQ Slur
- Pontiff’s office says Church welcomes everyone ‘as they are’
- LGBTQ stance remains complex despite Francis’s overtures
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Pope Francis was forced to apologize after reportedly using an offensive term to refer to gay men wishing to become priests, highlighting the deeply complex relationship the Catholic Church has with the LGBTQ community.
Francis, 87, allegedly told bishops convening last week in Rome not to admit homosexual men into seminaries, labeling them with a highly offensive term, Italian media including Corriere della Sera and la Repubblica reported late Monday, citing unnamed sources who attended the closed-door meeting.