Italians respond to Pope’s slur by taking Francis to Pride

The slur “is the slogan of the 2024 Pride,” said Martina Lorina, 28, an actress who was holding up a banner bearing the word.

After Italian media reported that Francis used the slur at a meeting with priests to complain that there was too much “gayness” in the church, the Vatican apologised.

But Rome’s Pride attendees took a different tack to respond to the insult: They made it their own. Pride participants symbolically invited the pope and his slur to the party, using a longtime tactic of the LGBTQ+ community to turn insults into words of pride.

“Let’s make him feel how beautiful gayness is,” a participant shouted in the crowd as men dressed as unicorns sang a Britney Spears song and children held hands with their two mothers, their faces covered in glittery rainbows.

Daniele Lacitignola, 34, who is Christian and gay, was carrying a cardboard cutout of Francis. He said that even though the pope’s recent word choice might convey that “gay people are not welcome in the church, he is always welcome to Pride.”

“Francy you are welcome in our parish,” a banner read.

But behind the jokes and the fanfare, some Romans have expressed concerns that the pope’s words could further marginalize the LGBTQ+ community in a country that together with Hungary, the Czech Republic and a handful of others is among the only European ones that have not legalised same-sex marriage.

“Many in Italy listen to the pope and church, and this can hurt families who have gay children,” said Basilio Petruzza, 33.