The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, has issued a clarification on May 28 regarding alleged statements made by Pope Francis during a private meeting with the Italian episcopate. The clarification comes in response to reports claiming that the Pope made a definitive «no» to homosexuals in seminaries and used derogatory language in the process.
“Pope Francis is aware of the recent articles regarding a closed-door conversation with the bishops of the CEI [Italian Bishops’ Conference]. As he 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.’ 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.”