Pope Francis has called on Christians to respect gays, and "accompany" their choices in his latest rebuke against the Church for its treatment toward the LGBTQ community.
On his way back to Rome after a three day visit to Armenia, the pope held an in-flight press conference during which he was asked his thoughts on comments made that Christians played a part in the "hate" towards gays following the Orlando shooting.
Pope Francis expressed sorrow and pain as he began to answer by reiterating his previous statements that Church must repent and ask for forgiveness.
"They must not be discriminated against," he said, according to Catholic New Agency. "Christians must ask forgiveness for having not accompanied so many choices."
He then goes on to exhort churches to accompany gays pastorally: "They must be respected and accompanied pastorally...The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge?"
Sorrow. Dismay. Pain. #PopeFrancis, when I mentioned Orlando massacre. pic.twitter.com/1k6qL2En47
— Cindy Wooden (@Cindy_Wooden) June 26, 2016
The statement by Francis was labeled a "groundbreaking moment" by Jesuit priest James Martin, who went on to say that ten years ago such comments would have been silenced.
Pope Francis is speaking about gays and lesbians in ways that would have gotten anyone else disciplined, censured or silenced ten years ago. — James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) June 27, 2016
During the conference Francis also touched on topics including Brexit, female deacons, and his upcoming trip to Poland for World Youth Day 2016.