Pope Francis has been accused of using a highly offensive term to describe gay men for the second time in a closed-door meeting, just weeks after the Vatican issued an apology over his use of the same slur.

Italian media reported that on May 20, during a closed-door meeting with Italian bishops, the Pope used the word "frociaggine," a vulgar Italian term roughly translating to "faggotness." According to ANSA, Francis repeated the term on Tuesday while meeting with Roman priests, stating that "there is an air of faggotness in the Vatican" and suggesting that it would be better if young men with a homosexual tendency were not allowed to enter the seminary.

The alleged comments came as a surprise to some as Pope Francis, 87, is known for having more liberal views than many of his predecessors when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as on other issues such as the role of women in the Catholic Church and the environment.

The Vatican's official news outlet, the Vatican News, reported on the meeting but did not mention the discussion of homosexuality nor the Pope's alleged use of the offensive term.