A derogatory word about gay men used by Pope Francis is designed to offend people, a gay rights advocate has said.
Weeks after apologising for using a highly offensive word about gay men the Pope has reportedly used the same term again.
Pope Francis initially made the remark in a closed-door meeting with bishops last month, when describing priesthood colleges as already too full of "frociaggine" - a highly offensive Italian slur.
He repeated the term on Tuesday while meeting Roman priests, according to the ANSA news agency – saying there is an air of "frociaggine" in the Vatican and that it was better that young men with a homosexual tendency not be allowed to enter the seminary.
International Gay Theatre Festival Founder Brian Merriman told Newstalk Breakfast the Pontiff likely believed it was a private meeting.
"I've always found him to be a man who speaks to his audience," he said. “He's quite liberal in public.”
"But it was interesting that he first used this offence term to a group of bishops, clearly in a closed room, clearly he thought that they'd all be safe there.
"He openly acknowledged that there's a lot of gay clergy and indeed a lot of gay young men signing up to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
"I can't think of any other workplace where it would be acceptable for the main boss and all their bosses to use such a derogatory term."
@newstalkfm "Celibate people make a lifestyle choice to suppress that love. And if they do that, that's fine. But don't fault others for loving". Weeks after apologising for using a highly offensive word about gay people, Pope Francis has reportedly used the same term again. Brian Merriman, Founder of the International Gay Theatre Festival reacts to the news that the Pope has used this slur for a second time. #pope #popefrancis #news #catholic #catholicism #lgbt #lgbtq #irishnews #irishtiktok #irelandtiktok ♬ original sound - Newstalk
'It is designed to offend'
Mr Merriman said he doesn't believe the same mistake was made twice.
"I feel very sorry for these well-motivated young men who want to go out and spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to know now what their boss and their local bosses really think of them," he said.
"Didn't he make an apology? One of those awful apologies [of] 'If I've offended anyone' – that’s actually nearly worse.
"When you use an offensive term, it is designed to offend, so there is no question mark about it."
'Abuse within the Church'
Mr Merriman said young people who may be drawn to the Catholic Church are facing a new obstacle.
I know the institution that he's involved in but what I'm really concerned [about] is that the young people going forward in these very difficult times to work for any Church it's a huge decision for them," he said.
"Now they're facing that abuse within the Church itself".
Pope Francis holds a weekly general audience in The Vatican, 2-9-21. Image: Associated Press / AlamyMr Merriman said his local Church on Dublin's Donore Avenue is a very welcoming place.
"They're about to run their third Pride service at the end of this month and they hosted the first ever LGBT carol service last Christmas," he said.
"They're a fantastic, outward-looking Church which says we need to administer to all the people in our flock.
"But why that still stands out in 2024 is a question for the institutionalised Church," he added.
Asked to respond to the latest report, the Vatican pointed to a statement it had issued regarding Tuesday's meeting with the priests, in which the Pope reiterated the need to welcome gay people into the Church and the need for caution regarding them becoming priests.
The statement said Pope Francis "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".
Late last year Pope Francis formally approved letting Catholic priests bless same-sex couples.
