And finally the most complete transcript of the full remarks of Pope Francis on the plane this morning returning from Rio comes from a couple of sources.

The first question was: Holiness, there was news published about the intimacy of Monsignor Ricci, how will you address this issue and how does His Holiness intend to address the whole issue of the "gay lobby"?

Vatican reporter John Allen gives this transcript of the Pope’s remarks:

The Ricca Case

“I did what canon law requires, which is to conduct a preliminary investigation. We didn’t find anything to confirm the things he was accused of, there was nothing … I’d like to add that many times we seem to seek out the sins of somebody’s youth and publish them. We’re not talking about crimes, which are something else. The abuse of minors, for instance, is a crime. But one can sin and then convert, and the Lord both forgives and forgets. We don’t have the right to refuse to forget … it’s dangerous. The theology of sin is important. St. Peter committed one of the greatest sins, denying Christ, and yet they made him pope! Think about that.”

Gay Lobby

“There’s a lot of talk about the gay lobby, but I’ve never seen it on the Vatican ID card!”

“When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem … they’re our brothers.”


One final add on to the pope’s gay lobby remarks and was provided by the BBC: “The problem is lobbying by this orientation, or lobbies of greedy people, political lobbies, Masonic lobbies, so many lobbies. This is the worse problem."
Now what is wrong with what he said?
further read: http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/what-pope-francis-could-not-mean-regarding-gay-priests-and-what-he-actually

He is a good speaker. God be with him

Bunker: He is a good speaker. God be with him

i doubt bishops in the vatican will agree, he give the media too much to talk about, when speaking to the media about matters of doctrine it is important that you treat them like idoits and repeat your points very clearly to make sure someone won't twist your words. Without the quote on "accept/seek the lord", i'm sure even well meaning catholics would have found it hard to distinguish whether his point was that gays shouldn't be discriminated against or we was simply pro gay.

He has the words for a homily but lacks the tact to address the media.