--- description: Just weeks after apologizing for using the homophobic F-word in Italian, Pope Francis has reportedly repeated the term in another closed-door meeting. title: Pope Francis Uses Anti-Gay Slur—Again image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30021f7a9cc604db/698a57c19862f5bd1e895ce3/pope-francis.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [LGBTQ](/tag/lgbtq/) ## LGBTQ Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Pope Francis Uses Anti-Gay Slur—Again  by [Chad de Guzman](/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 3:09 PM CUTPublished: Jun 12, 2024 4:30 AM CUT  Pope Francis meets with priests at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy, on June 11, 2024. Pope Francis meets with priests at the Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, Italy, on June 11, 2024.Vatican Media Pool/Getty Images  by [Chad de Guzman](/author/chad-de-guzman/)  ## Chad de Guzman Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Reporter Updated: Jan 19, 2026 3:09 PM CUTPublished: Jun 12, 2024 4:30 AM CUT Oops. He did it again. Weeks after [apologizing for using](https://time.com/6982651/pope-francis-reported-homophobic-slur-gay-priests-seminaries/ "undefined") an Italian word which roughly translates to “f-ggotry,” Pope Francis reportedly used the same term again in a closed-door meeting with Roman priests on Tuesday—right in the middle of [Pride Month](https://time.com/6985045/why-pride-month-is-in-june/ "undefined"). “There is an air of \[the slur\] in the Vatican,” the head of the Catholic Church said, according to Italian news agency [Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (ANSA)](https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2024/06/11/il-papa-a-porte-chiuse-torna-sulla-frociaggine-e-in-vaticano%5Fef10418a-760f-42f2-8275-6a87d0d3ffbb.html "undefined"), which cited sources present at the meeting at Salesian Pontifical University in Rome. Francis had used the controversial term during a closed-door discussion with Italian bishops last month, during which he also repeated his stance against the Church permitting openly gay men to become priests. The Vatican Press Office issued a [news bulletin](https://www.vaticannews.va/it/papa/news/2024-06/papa-universita-salesiana-incontro-preti-diocesi-di-roma.html "undefined") summarizing the latest hour-and-a-half meeting with around 160 priests. According to the bulletin and ANSA’s reporting, the 87-year-oldpontiff spoke with the group about a range of topics, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza as well as artificial intelligence. He ended the discussion by returning to the topic of admitting men with “homosexual tendencies” into seminaries—emphasizing that “everyone” should be welcomed into the Church, while at the same time reiterating the Church’s official opposition to gay men entering the priesthood. Francis’ use of a homophobic slur, which local Italian media outlets said last month may have been a misunderstanding based on the fact that his native language is Spanish, highlights his “[complicated](https://www.hrc.org/resources/seven-quotes-that-make-pope-francis-complicated-for-lgbt-people "undefined")” legacy on LGBTQ issues. While he is [regarded](https://poy.time.com/2013/12/11/person-of-the-year-pope-francis-the-peoples-pope/ "undefined") to have ushered in a new era of acceptance and inclusion, including by allowing same-sex couples to be blessed by priests, he has steadfastly resisted approving of gay clergymen or same-sex marriage. Vatican Press Office director Matteo Bruni [issued a statement](https://time.com/6982651/pope-francis-reported-homophobic-slur-gay-priests-seminaries/ "undefined") in late May after Francis’ first use of the derogatory word that said the Pope “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms” and “apologizes to those who felt offended.” Many observers, however, have responded less by taking offense and more by [making humor of the situation](https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7kSio-uqAP/ "undefined"). The Pope’s seeming [inability to stop himself](https://x.com/OhHeyDJ/status/1800699146070028783 "undefined") from [using the word](https://x.com/mattxiv/status/1800679240536318346 "undefined") has particularly [tickled the internet](https://x.com/vinn%5Fayy/status/1800773680357916840 "undefined"). But while Francis’ allies insist his recent comments [are simply gaffes and aren’t reflective of his true colors](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/popes-friends-observers-try-make-sense-homophobic-pr-disaster-2024-06-06/ "undefined"), others over the years have [cited his record](https://www.vox.com/2016/6/27/12039742/pope-francis-gay-apology-church "undefined") to claim: he’s not that innocent. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/"},"headline":"Pope Francis Uses Anti-Gay Slur—Again","datePublished":"2024-06-12T04:30:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-01-19T15:09:57.000Z","description":"Just weeks after apologizing for using the homophobic F-word in Italian, Pope Francis has reportedly repeated the term in another closed-door meeting.","url":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/","keywords":["LGBTQ","overnight","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30021f7a9cc604db/698a57c19862f5bd1e895ce3/pope-francis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Chad de Guzman","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/chad-de-guzman/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt30021f7a9cc604db/698a57c19862f5bd1e895ce3/pope-francis.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Vatican Pool Images 2024","caption":"Pope Francis meets some 160 priests who have been ordained for between11 and 39 years at the Salesian Pontifical University on June 11, 2024 in Rome, Italy.","creditText":"Vatican Media Pool/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/lgbtq/","name":"LGBTQ"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/","name":"Pope Francis Uses Anti-Gay Slur—Again"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Pope Francis Apologizes for Using ‘F—’ Slur During Private Discussion on Gay Priests","description":"Pope Francis apologized on Tuesday after he was quoted using a vulgar term about gay men to reaffirm the Catholic Church’s ban on gay priests.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/vECzWgKo/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2024-05-29T16:27:51.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/vECzWgKo.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/","duration":"PT1M1S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6987705/pope-francis-homophobic-slur-lgbtq-pride/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```