During an online video panel with Catholic university students, a Filipino student, Jack Lorenz Acebedo Rivero, urged Pope Francis to stop using offensive language towards LGBTQ people, stating that slurs cause “immense pain.”
This followed reports that the Pope had used a highly offensive term for gay men in a private meeting with bishops last month, for which he later apologized.
The Pope reportedly said gay men should not train for the priesthood, which shocked many due to his previous public stance on respecting gay people.
Recently, he also stirred controversy by suggesting that priests could bless same-sex couples in certain situations and affirmed that gay people are welcome in the Church.
The panel, themed “Building Bridges” and broadcast live on social media, included Catholic students from various countries. Rivero, from Ateneo de Manila University, shared his experiences of being bullied for his bisexuality and asked the Pope to stop using derogatory language against the LGBTQIA+ community.
He also requested that the Pope support allowing divorce in the Philippines, one of only two places in the world where it remains illegal due to Catholic Church influence.
Pope Francis did not directly address Rivero’s concerns but advised him to distinguish between true and false love. He also praised women’s strength and resilience, highlighting their unique abilities to nurture and support families.
