What Does 'Frociaggine' Mean? Pope Francis Apologizes for Comment
The pope reportedly said in a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops that gay individuals should not be able to become priests.
According to Italian publications La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera,he then said that seminaries, or priesthood colleges, are already too full of "frociaggine." The term roughly translates to "faggotness.""The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologizes to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others," Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, said in a statement on Tuesday.Newsweek reached out to the Vatican via email for further comment.Bruni added that the pope is "aware" of the various media reports about his remarks made behind closed doors to bishops of the CEI [Italian Bishops' Conference]."As [the pope] has stated on many occasions, 'There is room for everyone in the Church, for everyone!
No one is useless; no one is superfluous; there is room for everyone. Just as we are, everyone.'" Bruni said.Some bishops present at the CEI were unaware of how offensive the word could be to some, Corriere della Sera reported.The conference reportedly involved the approval of a new training document for Italian seminarians that addressed "wiggle room" in the Vatican's ban on gay priests, according to The Associated Press.
The Holy See is still reviewing the document.In both 2005 and 2016, as addressed in a document from the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Vatican said it could not ordain men and admit them to seminaries if they "practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture."Pope Francis, 87, who began his papacy in March 2013 after succeeding Pope Benedict XVI, has been viewed as arguably the most progressive Vatican leader in the church's history.That has included kinder views toward the LGBTQ+ community, in which he has stated that being gay is not a sin.
