VATICAN CITY/FRANCE
The Guardian (UK)
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome and Kim Willsher in Paris
Wednesday 22 April 2015
Pope Francis met France’s nominated ambassador to the Holy See, who is gay, and personally told him that the Vatican would not accept his appointment, a French newspaper has claimed.
In a meeting over the weekend, the pontiff allegedly cited his displeasure with a controversial 2013 gay marriage law in France as part of his reason for the decision, according to the report in Le Canard Enchâiné, a French satirical newspaper.
Pope Francis also allegedly said he did not appreciate the manner in which France had tried to put pressure on the Vatican by nominating a man – 55-year-old Laurent Stéfanini – who French officials knew would be controversial given the church’s views on homosexuality. The Vatican declined to comment to the Guardian about the veracity of the report or whether a meeting took place.
The church’s apparent objection to Stéfanini, a practising Catholic, has been known for weeks, ever since press reports first indicated that the Vatican was dragging its feet on the nomination because of his sexual orientation.
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