Aboard the papal plane, Oct 2, 2016 / 14:55 pm
On his way back from Georgia and Azerbaijan Pope Francis criticized what he called the "wicked" push of gender theory in schools, but stressed that individuals who struggle with their sexual identity ought to be treated with mercy, as Jesus would do.
"In my life as a priest and bishop, even as Pope, I have accompanied people with homosexual tendencies, I have also met homosexual persons, accompanied them, brought them closer to the Lord...and I have never abandoned them," the Pope said Oct. 2.
These people must be accompanied in the same way that Jesus would accompany them, he said, noting that Jesus would never tell a person "go away because you are homosexual."
However, while these people must be shown love, there is a "wickedness which today is done in the indoctrination of gender theory."