In private remarks to the leadership of a key Latin American church group, Pope Francis lamented that a "gay lobby" was at work at the Vatican, according to reports.
The Vatican is faced with allegations of blackmail taking place within the Vatican against high-ranking prelates who are gay.
"The Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious - the regional organization for priests and nuns of religious orders - confirmed Tuesday that its leaders had written a synthesis of Francis' remarks after their June 6 audience," the Associated Press reported. "The group, known by its Spanish acronym CLAR, said it was greatly distressed that the document had been published and apologized to the pope."
In the document, Francis is reportedly quoted as saying corruption exists within the Vatican. Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, had no comment for reporters.
According to multiple reports, Pope Benedict XVI's Feb. 28 resignation was influenced by the alleged blackmail.
"The unsourced reports, in the Rome daily La Repubblica and the news magazine Panorama, said details of the scandal were laid out in the secret dossier prepared for Benedict by three trusted cardinals who investigated the leaks of papal documents last year," according to the AP.
The Vatican denied the allegations, claiming the published reports were completely false. Some of the allegations centered around a homosexual subculture at the Vatican and high-ranking prelates were being blackmailed because they were gay.
Italian gay rights groups denounced the reporting of the "gay lobby" as insensitive and homophobic.
"That priests have sex with other men doesn't authorize anyone to speak about a gay lobby, because we're not talking about a group that represents the interests of the homosexual community but rather a group that is an integral part of a power structure - the Vatican - which is violently homophobic," said Franco Grillini, president of Gaynet rights group in a statement.
