Pope Francis is known for not caring much about diplomatic consideration, for being spontaneous in his expressions and for being quick-witted. This habit, combined with the traditionally very reserved information policy of his press people, can lead to a toxic mixture – as is the case now. First among Vatican observers and now also in the general public, media reports are being hotly debated that the Pope, at a confidential meeting with Italian bishops, rudely stopped delicate initiatives to admit homosexuals to seminaries.
There is – and here comes the point – enough “frociaggine” in the seminaries anyway, Francis is said to have said, and that would certainly be a choice of words that one would not expect from dignitaries and certainly not from a pope, no matter how popular he may want to be.
Did Francis just “joke”?
Frociaggine means something like gayness; the original form frocio could even be translated more crudely as “faggot”, according to the dictionary it is a “vulgar” term, it might be used in a bar – but never in a serious environment. Bishops are said to have been accordingly horrified by their church leader, and participants in the round apparently “leaked” the incident to the media, as journalists say.
On Tuesday, several newspapers reported on the matter, but only by hearsay; even the largest Italian daily The Sera newspaper who is usually well informed about Vatican matters, has consulted her sources. Unnamed bishops are quoted as saying that the Pope may have only been “joking,” or that he was not familiar with the meaning of the term. The Argentinian speaks a lot of Italian, and well, in keeping with Roman custom, but he is not a native speaker and makes mistakes.
Later on Tuesday, the apology followed, sent by email from the otherwise rather reserved press officer: “The Pope never intended to make homophobic comments or to offend.” He apologized to those who “felt offended.”
Some bishops wish to allow homosexuals to become priests
On May 20, the Pope met with the Italian bishops. There were various things to discuss, including the group’s wish to admit self-confessed homosexuals, if they do not act on their inclinations, in view of the lack of young people recruiting priests and the changed social climate. This would be a change to the previous regulations for priest training, which the German Benedict XVI had laid down in 2005 and which Francis has confirmed. The Pope is said to have used drastic language to oppose the bishops’ wish to liberalize the practice.
His remark would contradict the greater tolerance towards the LGBT+ community that he himself has so far demonstrated despite resistance from conservative clergy. Shortly after his election in 2013, he said to much attention: “Who am I to judge?” Last December, he approved a policy decision that priests could bless unmarried and same-sex couples in church – albeit under certain conditions. The Pope’s latest statement has attracted a great deal of attention.