HONG KONG (SE): “In our societies it even seems that homosexuality is fashionable and this mindset, somehow, also affects the life of the Church,” Pope Francis said during a four-hour-long interview for a book on August 9 at Casa Santa Marta with Claretian Father Fernando Prado, director of the Claretian Publications, Madrid. 
 
The pope expressed grave concern over the issue of homosexuality among the clergy and stressed on the need to “discern adequately” the candidates for priesthood. 
 

Pope Francis’ recent interview, published on the online news site Asia Times, on February 2, was more than just a mere Lunar New Year greeting to the Chinese people.

Speaking to Italian journalist and senior researcher at the Renmin University in China, Francesco Sisci, it was the first occasion on which the pope had specifically said anything about China.

HONG KONG (SE): For a self-confessed interview-shy man, Pope Francis certainly gives his all when he does submit to the journalist’s questions.

He stood for 80 minutes on the plane coming back from World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro at the end of July fielding impromptu queries and then, during August, spoke with the editor of La Civittá Cattolica, Father Antonio Spadaro sj, no less than three times.