'That you are gay does not matter': Pope Francis tells homosexual survivor of church sex abuse 'God made you like that and he loves you like that'.

Pope Francis told a gay man that 'God made you like that' and that being homosexual 'does not matter', it has been reported. 



Juan Carlos Cruz, a victim of sexual abuse by bishops in Chile, claims the Pope made the remark during a private meeting at the Vatican three weeks ago.

Cruz was invited to the city and to the Pope's private residence at Sancta Marta along with two other victims so the pontiff could apologise for failing to take their allegations seriously in the past.
During the meeting Cruz told Francis about being abused by Father Fernando Karadima and the fact that his sexuality had been used to discredit him.
Cruz told Spanish newspaper El Pais: 'He told me: "Juan Carlos, that you are gay does not matter. 

"God made you like that and he loves you like that and I do not care. The Pope wants you like that, you have to be happy with who you are."' Francis has been known for his tolerant views of homosexuality, telling a reporter in 2013 'who am I to judge?' when asked about a 'gay lobby' within the Vatican.

But his latest remark, if accurate, would mark an historic shift in attitudes towards homosexuality within the Catholic church. A long-standing opponent of same-sex marriage and homosexual sex, the church has never even issued an official statement on whether it believes people are born gay or choose to become gay, Newsweek reports. Following Francis' meeting with Cruz, all 34 of Chile's bishops offered to resign after years of denying abuse at the heart of the church.

The announcement followed four days of discussions in the Vatican, where the pope accused the bishops of 'grave negligence' in investigating allegations that children had been abused and saying evidence of sex crimes had been destroyed.

Apologising to the victims, the pope and to Chile for the failings of Chile's churchmen, Ramos said the bishops would all stay in their roles until Francis had decided what to do. The scandal that has swirled around the Chilean church for more than 20 years erupted four months ago when the pope visited Chile, prompting questions about his response to the serious claims of abuse.

Chilean victims of abuse welcomed news the bishops were ready to stand down but insisted the Vatican should take further, punitive action against the bishops.