Pope Francis Sparks Controversy Again with Repeat Use of Anti-Gay Slur
Pope Francis found himself in hot water once again after reportedly using an anti-gay slur during a meeting with priests in Rome on Tuesday. Italian news outlets revealed that the pontiff had repeated the offensive term “frociaggine,” which refers to gay men, the same term he was accused of using just two weeks prior.
The Vatican did not directly address the reports but instead focused on the pope’s caution against admitting gay men into Roman Catholic seminaries. The New York Times was unable to independently verify the pope’s use of the slur, and a Vatican spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
This incident comes on the heels of similar accusations last month when the pope allegedly used the same derogatory term during a private meeting with Italian bishops. The backlash from those reports prompted an apology from the pope, who stated that he never intended to offend or use homophobic language.
Despite his efforts to welcome the L.G.B.T.Q. community within the Roman Catholic Church, these repeated incidents have upset and alienated some members of the community. A gay priest expressed shock and sadness over the remarks, calling for more than just an apology from Pope Francis.
Italian politician Alessandro Zan, a prominent advocate for the L.G.B.T.Q. community, also weighed in on social media, emphasizing that the issue lies with homophobia rather than the existence of “frociaggine.”
The controversy surrounding Pope Francis’s use of anti-gay language highlights the ongoing tension between the church’s traditional teachings and the push for greater inclusivity and acceptance of the L.G.B.T.Q. community.
