Pope Francis, aged 87, reportedly repeated a derogatory term referencing gay people during a meeting with Roman priests on Tuesday, according to the ANSA news agency. This follows his previous use of the same Italian slur, "frociaggine," last month in a meeting with bishops while discussing young men entering seminaries.
Vatican sources had claimed in May that the pontiff's use of the term was made in jest, prompting an apology from Pope Francis, who stated he "never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms." The Vatican had not yet commented on the latest reported incident as of Wednesday.
Notably, in the 2020 documentary film Francesco, Pope Francis expressed supportive sentiments towards gay individuals, acknowledging their right to a family and emphasizing that nobody should face exclusion or misery due to their sexual orientation. Since his ascension as Pope in 2013, he has been quoted saying, "If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?"