In April 2018 Pope Francis met with Juan Carlos Cruz , a survivor of sexual abuse by Chilean priest Fernando Karadima . Cruz discussed with Francis in detail how his sexual orientation was used by Latin American media and news outlets to discredit his report of abuse and label him as a pervert and liar . In a private conversation between the two Francis reportedly said to Cruz , whom identifies as homosexual , in regards to his sexuality , " You know Juan Carlos , that does not matter . God made you like this . God loves you like this . The Pope loves you like this and you should love yourself and not worry about what people say . " The Pope 's reported comments to Cruz were then echoed and built on in public comments during a press conference he gave on 26 August 2018 , during his flight back to Rome at the end of the papal visit to Ireland where the World Meeting of Families had that day concluded . Four days previously , during the course of the World Meeting of Families , Equal Future 2018 had been launched , a humanitarian campaign aiming to raise awareness around the world of the damage done to children and young people when they are given the sense that to be LGBT is a misfortune or a disappointment . Francis was asked during the press conference what he would say to the father of a son who says he is homosexual . In his reply , the Pope said " Do n’t condemn . Dialogue , understand , make space for your son or daughter . Make space so they can express themselves , " " You are my son , you are my daughter , just as you are ! " and " that son and that daughter have the right to a family and of not being chased out of the family . " On 3 December 2018 a book , '' The Strength of a Vocation '' , consisting of a transcription of a four-hour interview between Pope Francis and Spanish Missionary Fernando Prado was published . In it , the Pope is quoted as saying that " homosexuality is a very serious issue " , " is fashionable and that ... also influences the life of the church " and is " something he is concerned about " . He further goes on to say " In consecrated and priestly life , there ’s no room for that kind of affection . Therefore , the church recommends that people with that kind of ingrained tendency should not be accepted into the ministry or consecrated life . The ministry or the consecrated life is not his place . " Francis condemned persecution of religious minorities in Iraq including some Christian victims . He did not mention the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant specifically but is believed to have referred to it . Francis mentioned children dying of hunger and thirst , kidnapped women , massacres , and violence of all kinds . In the opinion of Francis war and hatred can not be carried out in the name of God . Francis thanked brave people bringing aid to those driven from their homes . He confidently expects an effective solution to stop those crimes and return the area to the rule of law and , in a break with Vatican tradition , supports the use of force to stop Islamic militants from attacking religious minorities in Iraq
some Christian victims
Persecution of Christians by ISIL
Pope Francis