Pope Francis Apologizes for Using Anti-Gay Slur in Discussion of Seminary Formation
Pope Francis has apologized for using a homophobic slang word when speaking to Italy’s bishops about whether gay men should be accepted to seminaries.
News of the pope’s offensive remark appeared in Italian media outlets on Monday. According to the reports, Francis held a private meeting with the Italian Episcopal Conference that day during which he was asked about gay priests. America reported:
“[Italian newspaper] La Repubblica reported. . .that two or three bishops raised questions on this subject at last week’s meeting with the pope, and one of them explicitly asked Francis what he as a bishop should do ‘when an openly declared homosexual knocks at the door of the seminary.’ The paper said, ‘The pope, who already in the past had manifested his opposition to this [entry], responded in a firmly negative way, while emphasizing that respect is due to every person irrespective of their sexual orientation.’
“According to La Repubblica, Francis said that ‘it is necessary to put down markers, and prevent the risk that the gay person who chooses the priesthood could later end up living a double-life, continuing to practice homosexuality, while at the same time suffering from this dissimulation.’ . . .
“[Italian media] report that Francis, whose native language is Spanish, not Italian, and who often uses colloquial language in conversation, surprised bishops by using the Italian word ‘frociaggine,’ which is a derogatory term for ‘queerness’ in Italian. It is not clear if he was aware of the word’s offensive nature. The main Italian dailies quoted him as saying that “there is too much frociaggine in seminaries.”
Less than a day later, Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican’s Press Office, issued a statement which included an apology from the pope for his use of the derogatory word. Bruni said, per Vatican News:
“‘Pope Francis is aware of the recent articles regarding a closed-door conversation with the bishops of the CEI [Italian Bishops’ Conference]. As he has stated on many occasions, “There is room for everyone in the Church, for everyone! No one is useless; no one is superfluous; there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.” The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others.'”
Francis’ comments to Italy’s bishops come as the episcopal conference currently awaits Vatican approval for its new document on priestly formation, titled Ratio Formationis Sacerdotalis (System of Priestly Formation). Last November, the bishops approved an amendment on homosexuality, about which America reported:
“[The bishops] approved by majority vote an amendment that recognized the distinction between simple homosexual orientation and ‘deeply rooted tendencies. . .This, [Italian newspaper Il Corriere della Sera] reported, meant ‘in substance, that a homosexual person could be admitted to the seminary if, like the heterosexual, he gave the guarantee that he knows how to live the discipline of celibacy. The implication is that it is more difficult for homosexuals because they will be living in an all-male community for many years.’ . . .
“Some in Rome are now saying that the question regarding homosexuality and seminarians put to the pope may have come from one of those bishops who did not agree with the decision made by the Italian bishops’ conference by majority vote at the Assisi meeting.”
The Washington Post potentially provided further context, citing a Vatican official who confirmed the pope has said the offending word before, “not as a catchall for homosexual men, but for anyone, gay or straight, who forms closed, gossipy cliques.”
Responding to the pope’s initial use of an anti-gay word and subsequent apology, Francis DeBernardo, executive director of New Ways Ministry, issued a statement, saying, in part:
“New Ways Ministry welcomes Pope Francis’ apology for using a derogatory word about gay people in a conversation with Italy’s bishops. It confirms our thought that use of the slur was a careless colloquialism. His apology is a model for all Catholic leaders who continue to use language and ideas that offend LGBTQ+ people, even unknowingly.
“We are disappointed, however, that the pope did not clarify specifically what he meant by banning gay men from the priesthood. Without a clarification, his words will be interpreted as a blanket ban on accepting any gay man to a seminary. We ask Pope Francis, who famously once said of gay priests, “Who am I to judge?”, to provide a clearer statement on his views about gay priests, so many of whom faithfully serve the people of God each day. . .
“Pope Francis has not always been clear in his remarks about LGBTQ+ people. We hope this incident will encourage him to learn more about the language he uses and be more careful because misuse can be dangerously harmful.”
Tomorrow, Bondings 2.0 will provide more reactions from Catholic LGBTQ+ advocates. To receive daily posts about the latest Catholic LGBTQ+ news, opinion, and spirituality directly to your inbox, subscribe to Bondings 2.0 by clicking here.
—Robert Shine (he/him), New Ways Ministry, May 29, 2024
I must admit that it is disappointing to hear Pope Francis state this careless colloquial. It only affirms that much literacy is needed. In addition, this is tragic for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals who continue to feel further alienated from the Church. Yet, we must persist and continue to invoke the Holy Spirit for change in our Church.
I’m finding it increasingly difficult to trust this Pope, especially in regard to his concern about those with “deep rooted” homosexual tendencies:
https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/grace-margins/so-what-are-deep-seated-homosexual-tendencies-anyway
I don’t think there’s any doubt that the vast majority of us in the LGBTQ+ community have welcomed Francis’s papacy as a great step forward towards a more inclusive and open church. That said, we must continue not to be afraid to challenge him when he speaks in ways that continue to reveal either a misunderstanding of or prejudiced perspective on issues related to sex, sexual orientation, gender, and gender identity. Given that the history of ecclesiastical clerical life (including the papacy!) has countless examples of heterosexual clergy living double-lives, it is patently offensive that the Holy Father would cite such an issue as a reason to exclude openly gay men who experience a call to priesthood and seek seminary entrance. Such an attitude — instead of encouraging potential seminarians to be open and honest — will simply foster an atmosphere of fear and repression. It will continue to perpetuate an incorrect and unhealthy understanding of matters sexual (regardless of orientation). I pray that the Holy Father will be open to listening to those whose understanding of these matters reflect more accurately the lived experience of God’s LGBTQ+ children.
It’s not enough. He has to root out the homophobia inside himself that prompted such an outburst. A good way to start would be to bless same-sex marriages and to encourage young gay men to become priests and religious.
The problem is not the “colloquialism” Francis used, but the fact that the bishop’s group was still considering gay men as unable to control themselves in an all male situation. He really needs to start by cancelling the Ratzinger anti-gay statement from 1986. Until gay individuals are considered full and equal members of the Church everything else is window dressing.
And what does he say about the numerous heterosexual priests who have illegitimate children? This strikes me as pure hypocracy and makes it very hard for me to support the church in any way
Holy Spirit, open our hearts, so as to have the ability to love all of God’s children and really mean that in public as well as in our heart of hearts and especially there. Oh how this wisdom is needed from the Holy Father down to us ordinary folks.