Pope Francis says the church should ask forgiveness from gays for past treatment and Christians should apologize to gays

The leader of the Roman Catholic church Pope Francis has made some controversial statements saying that the Roman catholic church should apologize to gays for offending them.

While on a press conference aboard the Papal Plane on his way from Armenia, the pontiff made this statement.  Pope Francis was responding to a question from a journalist about a German Cardinal who said the Catholic Church should apologize for being "very negative" about gays.

The Pope was also asked if he agreed with one of his top advisers, who said after the Orlando, Florida massacre that the Church should seek forgiveness from gay people for having marginalized them.

He told reporters on the plane "there are traditions in some countries, some cultures, that have a different mentality about this question (homosexuals)" and there are "some (gay) demonstrations that are too offensive for some".

"I repeat what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says: that they must not be discriminated against, that they must be respected and accompanied pastorally," 

 

"The Church must ask forgiveness for not behaving many times -- when I say the Church, I mean Christians! The Church is holy, we are sinners!"

"I believe that the church not only should apologize to the person who is gay whom it has offended," he added, "but has to apologize to the poor, to exploited women, to children exploited for labour; it has to ask forgiveness for having blessed many weapons."

"One can condemn, but not for theological reasons, but for reasons of political behaviour...Certain manifestations are a bit too offensive for others, no?

"But these are things that have nothing to do with the problem. The problem is a person that has a condition, that has good will and who seeks God, who are we to judge? And we must accompany them well."

'We Christians have to apologize for so many things, not just for this,' Francis added, referring to the treatment of gay people.

'But we must ask for forgiveness, not just apologize! Forgiveness! Lord, it is a word we forget so often!'

The pope did not elaborate on what he meant by seeking forgiveness for the Church "having blessed so many weapons", but it appeared to be a reference to some Churchmen who actively backed wars in the past.