Pope Francis spoke on gays and women in the Catholic Church while returning to Rome after a trip to Brazil, Monday.
“If a person is gay accepts the Lord and has goodwill, who am I to judge them?” responded the pope to a question about an influential, so-called gay lobby at the Vatican.
Francis did not make a substantive change in church teaching toward gays and lesbians but his comment marked a shift in tone.
The church has long maintained that homosexuality is a disorder,” Francis said.
Francis also spoke on the role of women in the church. He said the church should embrace their church work but not as ordained priests.
