According to reports, he used the derogatory term after he was asked about his stance on whether gay men should be permitted to train for the priesthood if they remained celibate.

Francis then claimed that the Catholic Church is already too full of “frociaggine”, which translates to “f****t”.

Comments made in the meeting, which was behind closed doors, was relayed to the Italian tabloid Dagospia. 

Following widespread backlash, the Vatican issued an apology on Francis’ behalf with the following statement: “Pope Francis is aware of the articles recently published about a conversation, behind closed doors, with the bishops of the CEI.

“As he stated on several occasions, ‘In the Church there is room for everyone, for everyone! Nobody is useless, nobody is superfluous, there is room for everyone. Just as we are, all of us.’

“The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended by the use of a term reported by others.”

Francis’ views on homosexuality have fluctuated over the past decade. Although he has claimed that “homosexual acts” are sinful, he has rejected the idea that homosexuality is a crime.

In 2018, he told a Chilean man who was sexually abused by a priest that God had made him gay and loved him that way.

In 2019, he expressed that gay priests should be celibate or leave the priesthood, adding that homosexuality is “something that worries me”.

In 2020, he said same-sex couples should be protected by civil union laws and that homosexual people are “children of God” and “have a right to be in a family”.

In 2022, he advised parents of queer children to support them and “not hide behind an attitude of condemnation”.

In 2023, he said that being gay is not a crime and suggested that same-sex unions could be blessed.

For Pope Francis’ views on LGBTQIA+ issues, visit here for a brief history.