In his new book, Pope Francis took the opportunity to clarify one of his most misunderstood comments – the “Who am I to judge” remark made about homosexuals during an in-flight press conference in 2013.
CNA/EWTN News is reporting on an excerpt from the pope’s new book, The Name of God is Mercy, which is comprised of a book-length interview with Italian journalist Andrea Tornielli.
During the interview, Tornielli asked the pope about his experience as a confessor to homosexual persons, and specifically about the comment he made during his return flight to Rome after celebrating World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro on July 28, 2013.
“On that occasion I said this: If a person is gay and seeks out the Lord and is willing, who am I to judge that person?” Pope Francis told Tornielli. “I was paraphrasing by heart the Catechism of the Catholic Church where it says that these people should be treated with delicacy and not be marginalized.”
He continued: “I am glad that we are talking about ‘homosexual people’ because before all else comes the individual person, in his wholeness and dignity. And people should not be defined only by their sexual tendencies: let us not forget that God loves all his creatures and we are destined to receive his infinite love. I prefer that homosexuals come to confession, that they stay close to the Lord, and that we pray all together. You can advise them to pray, show goodwill, show them the way, and accompany them along it.”
The pope was in no way endorsing homosexual behavior or hinting at a possible slackening of the prohibition against same-sex marriage as so many people had hoped. Instead, he was merely affirming long-standing Church teaching that individuals with same-sex attraction must be treated with respect.
The book contains nine chapters following a forward by Tornielli in which he states that the book was meant to “reveal the heart of Francis and his vision” and to learn what mercy and forgiveness mean to the pope as a man, and as a priest.
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