Francis's comments offended some large families when he said parents should be more responsible and three children was 'about right'.
But now the Pope has apologised for his remarks which he said 'caused such disorientation'.
Vatican spokesman Archbishop Giovanni Becciu said Francis was 'truly sorry' and he 'absolutely did not want to disregard the beauty and the value of large families.'
The pope made the comments during a press conference on a flight back from the Philippines when asked by a reporter if the Catholic Church should change its stance on contraception.
He said: "Some think that in order to be good Catholics we have to be like rabbits. No. Responsible parenthood."
Former US Republican Presidential candidate and Catholic Rick Santorum said last week: "It's sometimes very difficult to listen to the Pope and some of the things he says off the cuff, and this is one of them."