Pope Francis is facing criticism after reports emerged that he used a derogatory term towards the LGBT community during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops. Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera reported that the Pope used the term 'frociaggine', a vulgar Italian word meaning 'faggottness'. The incident allegedly took place on May 20 during a meeting with the Italian Bishops Conference. The Vatican has not yet responded to the reports. Pope Francis has previously been seen as more welcoming towards the LGBT community, but has also expressed reservations about gay seminarians. This latest revelation adds another layer to the ongoing discussions about the Catholic Church's stance on LGBT issues and raises questions about the Pope's true views on the matter. The Vatican issued an apology, stating that the Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms. The statement did not confirm or deny the use of the offensive term. The Pope has previously made efforts to welcome the queer community into the Catholic Church. [87354f31] [6ef13578]