Pope Francis says to the homosexual: "God made you like this and loves you like this"

A victim of clergy sexual abuse said Pope Francis told him that God made him gay and that his sexuality "doesn't matter".

Juan Carlos Cruz spoke privately with the pontiff about the abuses suffered by an important Chilean priest.

After his sexuality came into a conversation, Francis reportedly said to him: “Juan Carlos, that you are gay it doesn't matter. God made you like this and loves you like this and I don't care. The Pope loves you like this. You must be happy with who you are. "

The comments are probably the most explicit acceptance of homosexuality publicly pronounced by a head of the Roman Catholic church, who teaches that gay sex is a sin.

It is not the first time that Francisco's comments have suggested a shift in attitudes. In the past, he told reporters: “If someone is gay and is looking for the Lord, who am I to judge him? You shouldn't discriminate against or marginalize these people. "

The topic of homosexuality arose in Mr Cruz's conversation with Francis because some of the bishops of Chile tried to portray him as a pervert who was lying about the abuse, he told El Pais.

His rapist, Fernando Karadima, now 87, was found guilty by the Vatican of sexually assaulting children in 2011. He had been excluded from ecclesiastical duties and sentenced to a life of "penance and prayer", but never faced a trial. criminal.

All 34 Chilean Catholic bishops have offered the pope their resignation over a scandal of sexual abuse and cover-up that has shaken the country's churches.

It is not yet clear whether Francis accepted his offer to resign.

Mr. Cruz said the Pope personally apologized to him for the abuse he suffered during this week's meeting.

"I was thrilled to take what we talked about seriously," he added. "I felt that the visit was not just a matter of protocol, of public relations."

The Vatican has not yet commented on the Pope's comments on homosexuality.