Pope Francis is being accused of repeating a homophobic slur in a closed-door meeting, according to Italian media.
The Pope reportedly used a derogatory term about gay men for the second time, whilst calling for caution regarding them becoming priests.
It comes just weeks after the pontiff apologised for causing any offense, after allegedly using the same term at a bishops meeting last month in relation to homosexuals entering the seminary.
ANSA news agency says Francis repeated the word “fr****gine”, a highly offensive term that roughly translates as “f*gg*tness”, as he discussed gay men becoming priests at a meeting on Tuesday.
The Vatican press office issued a statement summarising the meeting, in which Pope Francis discussed a range of topics from poverty, war and migration with some 160 priests at the Salesian Pontifical University. He also reiterated the need for homosexuals to be welcome within the Church, whilst exercising caution on them being ordained as priests.
A statement from the Vatican after the alleged slur was used in May, said the Pope did not intend to offend anyone and apologised to those who felt hurt.
Pope Francis has widely been regarded as having a more accepting approach to the LGBT community than previous leaders of the Catholic Church.
In 2013, at the start of his papacy, he famously said: "If a person is gay and seeks God and has good will, who am I to judge?"
Last year he described laws that criminalise homosexuality as "unjust" and formally approved allowing priests to bless same-sex couples, as long as such blessings do not give the impression of a marriage ceremony.
