ROME — Pope Francis rebuked young priests in Rome this week, accusing them of gossiping about the pontiff and behaving in an effeminate manner.
“In the parishes I hear people say: ‘What is this Pope thinking? Who is this Pope?'” the Pope said. Said This week, 72 priests who were ordained in the past decade met in a closed session.
“I know there are parishes where this kind of gossip happens. Gossip is no good. Gossip is for women,” he told them.
“We’re the ones wearing our pants. We need to say things openly,” he said.
Local Media Tied up The pope’s comments have been interpreted as sexist and misogynistic, and earlier this week he made homophobic comments that have alienated many gay people and progressives.
On Tuesday, the Vatican was forced to apologize for comments the pope made at a meeting last week with more than 200 Italian bishops, in which he reiterated the church’s ban on gays entering seminaries, adding that there was already too much “homosexuality” in the church.
Bishops should “kick out all homosexuals” [checche] “Anyone who graduates from a seminary, even someone who is only half interested in theology, can study theology,” the Pope added.
Matteo Bruni, head of the Vatican’s press office, said the pope “never intended to offend or express homophobic language and apologises to those who have been offended by the use of language reported by others.”
The editor of a Milan-based women’s magazine Donna Moderna, dubbing The word on women and gossip is “The Pope’s Latest Gaffe.”
“What’s going on in the Vatican?” the editors asked, clearly astonished.
