VATICAN CITY
Vatican Insider
The leaders of the Conference of Latin American Religious (CLAR) refer to an audience in which Francis spoke of the existence of a “gay lobby” in the Roman Curia. Lombardi issued no statement on the matter, saying the meeting was of a private nature
ANDREA TORNIELLI
VATICAN CITY
In the Curia…there are holy people,” but there is also “a current of corruption”, Pope Francis allegedly told the leadership of the Latin American Conference of Religious (CLAR) in a private audience in the Apostolic Palace library on 6 June. A Chilean website published a partial account of the conversation.
According to the Latin American religious, the Pope also talked about a “gay lobby” existing in the Vatican: “The “gay lobby” is mentioned, and it is true, it is there… We need to see what we can do…,” the Pope was quoted saying. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi said he had “no statement to make on the proceedings or on the content of the conversation” the content of which was not therefore recorded or transcribed.
According to CLAR’s leaders, Francis apparently encouraged the Conference’s members to “keep moving forward” and not be afraid to take risks by approaching the poor and new emerging figures across the continent. “Perhaps even a letter of the Congregation for the Doctrine (of the Faith) will arrive for you, telling you that you said such or such thing… But do not worry. Explain whatever you have to explain, but move forward… Open the doors, do something there where life calls for it. I would rather have a Church that makes mistakes for doing something than one that gets sick for being closed up…,” the Pope was quoted saying.
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