Pope Francis Goes On "Sorry" Spree; Says Church Must Ask Gay Community For Forgiveness

Pope Francis believes the Catholic Church needs to “ask for forgiveness” from the gay community, for “so many things”.

According to ABC News, the Pope dropped the surprise declaration during one of his “freewheeling” chats with the press on a flight to Rome from Armenia.

The comment came in response to a question from a reporter wondering if Pope Francis echoed the sentiment of German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, who said the Church needed to say sorry for how it has treated gay people.

"We Christians have to apologise for so many things, not just for this [treatment of gay people], but we must ask for forgiveness,” he said.

“Not just apologise – forgiveness.”

Though, in a mildly controversial addendum, Pope Francis continued: "[I]f a person who has that condition, who has good will, and who looks for God, who are we to judge?”

Vatican spokesperson Father Federico Lombardi clarified that “condition” did not imply a medical condition, but “a person in that situation”. (Apparently, the word “condition” in Italian can also mean “situation”.)

Early in his papacy, Pope Francis asked, “Who am I to judge?” in regards to homosexuality.

“We shouldn’t marginalise people for this. They must be integrated into society.”

Though Pope Francis’ comments have been celebrated by the gay community, he sparked controversy in 2015 after meeting with Kim Davis, the Kentucky clerk who denied marriage licences to same-sex couples. The Vatican attempted to diminish their encounter by saying the “brief greeting… should not be considered a form of support of her position.”

Nonetheless, earlier this year Pope Francis reiterated the Church’s stance on gay marriage, saying there are “absolutely no grounds” to equate same-sex unions with those of heterosexual couples.

But back to that flight from Armenia.

"There are traditions in some countries, some cultures, that have a different mentality about this question [homosexuals]" he continued, saying "some [gay] demonstrations... are too offensive for some".

Still, Pope Francis says these aren’t grounds for discrimination or marginalisation of the gay community.

In a conciliatory mood, Pope Francis also noted some other individuals who require an apology from the Church.

“I think that the Church not only should apologise … to a gay person whom it offended, but it must also apologise to the poor as well, to the women who have been exploited, to children who have been exploited by [being forced to] work [and] it must apologise for having blessed so many weapons."

Photo: Student Edge Composite / iStock.