Pope Francis has been told by a Filipino Catholic university student to “stop using offensive language” against LGBTQ people.
Slurs cause “immense pain”, Jack Lorenz Acebedo Rivero said during an online video panel with other Catholic university students and the pope.
His comments come after reports that the Pope used extremely offensive language against g*y men during a closed-door meeting last month with bishops.
He later apologised to those who were “hurt” and the Vatican said he did not mean to offend anyone.
The Pope reportedly said g*y men should not be allowed to train for the priesthood, adding there was already an air of frociaggine, which translates as a highly offensive slur.
This has shocked many, as the Pope has often talked publicly of being respectful towards g*y people.
He recently created consternation among Catholic traditionalists by saying priests should be able to bless same-s*x couples in some circumstances and has frequently talked of g*y people being welcome in the Church.
The forum, which was broadcast live on social media on Thursday, had the theme “Building Bridges” in a region of diverse religions and ethnicities. It brought together Catholic university students from across different countries.
The student from the Ateneo de Manila University told the Pope that he has been “outcasted and bullied due to my bisexuality, my gayness, my identity and being the son of a single parent”.
He then called on him to: “Stop using offensive language against the LGBTQIA+ community.”
Mr Rivera, who wore a rainbow-coloured sash over his traditional Filipino garment, also asked the Pope to “allow divorce in the Philippines”.
