Pope Francis begs parents to stop criticising gay children

In a recent interview with reporters after closing out a Catholic family rally in Ireland, the leader of the Roman Catholic church noted that "There have always been gay people and people with homosexual tendencies."

When asked what he would say to a father of a gay child, he suggested praying not condemnation.

In his words, "Don't condemn. Dialogue. Understand, give the child space so he or she can express themselves."

Pope Francis further encouraged parents not to respond with silence or throw their gay children out.

"Ignoring child with this tendency shows a lack of motherhood and fatherhood. This child has the right to a family. And the family not throwing him out," he added.

ALSO READ: "God made you like that and he loves you like that" - Pontiff tells gay man

In other Pope Francis news

The Holy Father has been asked to resign by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, an influential figure in the Catholic church.

In a newly published lengthy letter, he accuses Pope Francis of covering sexual abuse in the Catholic Church for years including allegations facing a cardinal named Theodore McCarrick. He also claims that he had personally informed the pope of the Cardinal's history of abuse as far back as 2013.

The cardinal recently resigned after reports the alleged abuse including an accusation involving the sexual abuse of a minor deemed credible by an internal investigation by the American church.

For this cover-up, Vigano is demanding that he step down. He wrote, "In this extremely dramatic moment for the universal Church. He must acknowledge his mistakes and, in keeping with the proclaimed principle of zero tolerance, Pope Francis must be the first to set a good example for cardinals and bishops who covered up McCarrick's abuses and resign along with all of them."

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has refused to respond to the claims that he knew of the former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick's alleged sexual abuse.

When asked if there was any truth to the claims made in the letter during a news conference on the papal plane back to Rome on Sunday, August 26, 2018, the pope raised eyebrows by sidestepping the questions.

"I will not say a single word about this. I believe the statement speaks for itself. And you have the sufficient journalistic ability to make your conclusions. It's an act of trust, " he said.

Pressed about his knowledge of McCarrick who Vigano refers to as a serial predator by CBS News reporter Anna Matranga, he responded, "This is part of the statement about McCarrick."

"Study it and then I will say. … I await your comments on the document. I would like that," Pope Francis added.